The Cedar Ball

The Cedar Ball, produced by Field Manufacturing Corporation of Peoria, Illinois in October 1931, comes from the very earliest era of coin-operated pinball. As a pure mechanical (PM) machine, it predates the electromechanical era that would soon follow, making it an essential piece for collectors and historians seeking to understand the evolution of the game.

Built as a tabletop/counter game for a single player, The Cedar Ball has none of the electric features - or flippers - that later generations of pinball would introduce. Like other pure mechanical games of its day, play consisted of launching balls onto the playfield, where gravity and chance determined where they came to rest. This simplicity makes The Cedar Ball an intriguing example of how early pinball machines were constructed.

Unfortunately, there is limited information available about the design, art, or theme of The Cedar Ball. Given its age and rarity, it's not surprising that few details have been documented. As a result, this machine's aesthetic and artistic merits remain largely unexplored. Nonetheless, its historical significance and mechanical purity make The Cedar Ball an important addition to any pinball collection or museum.