Twinkle
About This Machine
Twinkle, manufactured by Baker Novelty and Manufacturing Company in September 1939, is a single-player electro-mechanical machine that offered five balls for five cents, an approachable price point for the era.
The playfield features 13 spring bumpers; hitting a numbered bumper lights the corresponding number on the backglass. Sending the ball through any of the four outlanes when lit illuminates a matching star on an observatory-themed backglass display, and the seven stars occasionally flicker briefly to simulate twinkling starlight — a charming visual touch tied to the machine's name. The replay total is projected in the upper left corner of the playfield.
Little is documented about Twinkle's designer, but its observatory-style backglass and star-lighting gimmick make it a distinctive example of late-1930s EM design.
Images (48)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 5 balls for 5 cents. Spring bumpers (13). Hitting a numbered bumper lights corresponding number on backglass. Ball through any of the four outlanes when lit lights corresponding star on observatory in backglass. The seven stars on backglass occasionally light briefly, simulating the twinkling of stars. Replay total is projected in upper left corner of playfield.