Air Derby

The Air Derby pinball machine, manufactured by Western Equipment & Supply Company in June 1937, is a flipperless, one-ball payout machine built around an aviation theme, reflecting the public's fascination with flying during the golden age of early aircraft. As with other payout machines of the era, it rewarded players with cash or tickets based on where the ball landed rather than through flipper-based skill shots — a ticket model was also available for $10 extra.

Gameplay on Air Derby centers on 21 spring bumpers scattered across the playfield, which the single ball ricochets among after being launched from the shooter lane; since the game predates the flipper by a full decade, all of the challenge comes from the shooter's aim and the bumpers' placement rather than any player-controlled paddles. This reliance on chance and shooter skill was typical of one-ball payout machines of the late 1930s.

The cabinet's artwork depicts stylized aircraft, airports, and aviation imagery befitting its "Air Derby" name, evoking the adventurous spirit of 1930s flight. While specific details about its designer have not survived, Air Derby remains a solid example of the flipperless payout machines that were common in pinball's pre-flipper era.