Varsity

The Varsity, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in 1935, is a single-player electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from a manufacturer that would go on to shape the industry for decades to come. As an early EM design, it predates the widespread use of the flipper (not introduced until 1947) and relies on the simpler mechanical scoring methods typical of pre-flipper pinball: guiding the ball past pins, bumpers, and lanes using skillful nudging and the tilt of the cabinet rather than player-controlled flippers.

Detailed specifics about the Varsity's theme, artwork, and notable features are not well documented. What is known places it firmly within Gottlieb's early production era, a period during which the company was establishing itself in the emerging pinball market.

While the Varsity lacks a well-documented theme or standout art features in the available records, its place within Gottlieb's history is notable simply for its age. Enthusiasts are drawn to it for its rarity and connection to early pinball manufacturing, making the Varsity an intriguing find for those interested in the pre-flipper origins of the game.