Trade Winds

Trade Winds, produced by United Manufacturing Company starting in March 1945, is a flipperless electro-mechanical pinball machine with a sailing theme. It was a conversion of Exhibit's 1941 'Sky Blazer', repurposed with new theming during the World War II era, when material shortages often pushed manufacturers toward converting existing designs rather than building entirely new ones.

The gameplay features 12 passive bumpers, which, without flippers or slingshots, provide a distinct challenge to players relying on the machine's layout and their aim. A single kick-out hole adds an element of unpredictability, requiring skilled players to time their shots carefully to avoid losing balls. Trade Winds' sailing theme is depicted through the game's artwork.

As a wartime conversion of an existing Exhibit design, Trade Winds offers an interesting look at how manufacturers adapted during the resource constraints of World War II, repurposing playfields and mechanisms from earlier machines rather than starting from scratch.