Tri-Score

The Tri-Score, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company in 1950, is a single-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine featuring flippers, pop bumpers, rollover buttons, and kick-out holes. Rather than being an early example of EM technology (flippers and EM mechanisms had already been in use for years by 1950), Tri-Score represents a mature, well-developed entry in Genco's lineup from the period, with 1,512 units produced.

The gameplay experience on the Tri-Score is characterized by its use of flippers, pop bumpers, rollover buttons, and kick-out holes. Notably, the rebound rubbers beneath the flippers are not slingshots, which affects gameplay dynamics: the long left and right lanes serve as drop lanes unless the player can "gunch" the ball to save it from draining. This unique mechanic adds a layer of strategy and challenge to the game. The manufacturer's flyer even suggested a ball shot straight down the middle into the top kick-out hole could strike all eight rollover buttons for a doubled or tripled score, though the manufacturer's advice to operators specifically warned how to prevent that.

The Tri-Score's design and artwork, while unremarkable by modern standards, demonstrate the early 1950s aesthetic found in many EM games. Little is known about its designer or notable trivia surrounding this particular model, but the Tri-Score remains an interesting piece of pinball history from Genco Manufacturing Company.