Turf Champs

Turf Champs is a rare and historically significant pinball machine from the Stoner Manufacturing Company. Produced in January 1936, this game was designed by Karl Knickerbocker and represents an early example of the company's approach to pinball design, part of Stoner's "Aristocrat" series.

What sets Turf Champs apart is its unique gameplay feature: players can shoot five balls simultaneously into play, simulating a horse racing event. Before shooting, up to seven selections could be made at a cost of 5 cents each (up to 35 cents per play, shared among as many as seven players), with odds randomly selected by the machine. This "one shot - 5 balls" game was touted as an exciting experience, with outcomes depending on the randomly selected odds.

An Electropak was standard equipment, and a Ticket Unit was available for $10 extra. The game's mechanism was later patented (U.S. Patent No. 2,093,293, filed July 1936, granted September 1937 to Harry B. Stoner and Karl Knickerbocker). With Stoner Manufacturing Company operating from 1933 to 1941, Turf Champs is a fascinating artifact for collectors and historians, offering a glimpse into pinball's early days.