Touchdown

Touchdown, manufactured by United Manufacturing Company in 1952, is a notable piece of early football-themed pinball history. It was actually a reissue of United's 1951 'County Fair' with a football theme substituted for the horse-racing theme, reusing the same horseless playfield art. Its release coincides with the growing popularity of football in the United States, making it a unique and nostalgic piece for sports enthusiasts and pinball aficionados alike.

The gameplay of Touchdown is characterized by its use of five balls, which can be played for five cents. Players navigate the flipperless design to score points by hitting pop bumpers (three) and passive bumpers (thirteen), while also utilizing kick-out holes (eleven). A mechanical backbox animation adds an extra layer of entertainment, depicting football players from opposing teams carrying a ball toward the goal post. This attention to detail highlights the craftsmanship that went into creating Touchdown.

The cabinet itself measures 57 inches in length, 29 1/2 inches in width, and 69 inches in height, making it a substantial piece for any pinball enthusiast's collection. There is limited information available on the designer or artist responsible for the machine's design and theme. Nonetheless, Touchdown remains an interesting artifact in the history of pinball, offering a glimpse into how manufacturers reused and re-themed existing designs during the early 1950s.