Tri-A-Lite
About This Machine
The Tri-A-Lite, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company in July 1935, is an early example of electromechanical (EM) pinball design. This battery-operated machine measured 39 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 40 inches high, and was built to be an affordable, accessible form of entertainment, offering ten balls for five cents.
The Tri-A-Lite's gameplay features ten holes arranged in triangular patterns on the playing field, each with its own light at the center. The objective is straightforward: by forming triangles, players aim to illuminate these lights, with contemporary advertising claiming a single ball could be enough to complete six triangles. This clever design set it apart from other pinball machines of its era.
An emphasis on durability and quality is evident in the machine's "de-luxe" construction and sturdy cabinet, as described in period advertising, along with its "beautifully screened playing field." Although little information is available about the designer or any specific theme behind the Tri-A-Lite, it remains an interesting piece of early pinball history.
Images (12)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 10 balls for 5 cents. Game measured 39 inches long, 21 inches wide, and 40 inches high. Battery operated. An advertisement from the UK states: There are 10 holes on the playing field, so placed that they form 10 triangles. In the centre of each triangle is a light. The player attempts to light the lights by forming a triangle. One ball may be all that is needed to complete 6 triangles. Tri-a-Lite is de-luxe built throughout from the beautifully screened playing field to the well made, sturdy cab inet.