Beat 'Em

Beat, manufactured by Western Equipment & Supply Company of Chicago in 1937, is an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from the pre-flipper era of pinball history, when the game had a coin-operated, electromechanical basis but had not yet gained player-controlled flippers. The fact that so little is known about Beat's design and gameplay features makes it all the more intriguing to enthusiasts.

In terms of gameplay, Beat likely employed the standard flipperless playfield layout common in the mid-1930s, where players relied on plunger skill and gravity rather than active ball control to route the ball among bumpers and targets before it drained. Its electro-mechanical mechanism would have utilized relays, solenoids, and other electromechanical components to control gameplay and scoring.

Given Beat's age and rarity, it is unlikely that any original artwork or theme details remain well documented. Nonetheless, its historical significance as an example of pre-flipper EM pinball technology makes it a valuable artifact for collectors and historians.