Bingo Play Cards

Bingo Play Cards, manufactured by Bingo Novelty Manufacturing Company of Chicago in January 1932, is a rare and significant example of early pinball's mechanical roots. As a pure mechanical machine, it predates the electromechanical (EM) era that would dominate the industry for decades to come, representing the very beginning of pinball's evolution from simple coin-operated novelty to full-fledged amusement game.

Gameplay on Bingo Play Cards is straightforward: players insert 5 cents to play this single-player tabletop/counter game, whose operation relies entirely on mechanical components - no electricity, and of course no flippers, which would not appear in pinball for another fifteen years. The cabinet itself is notable, featuring a dark walnut finish that adds an air of sophistication, and measuring roughly 24 1/2 inches long, 16 3/4 inches wide, and 8 1/2 inches high. A door at the top of the cabinet let the operator remove the collected coins.

One curiosity for researchers: the game is sometimes identified in pinball resources as "Bingo Game of Cards" because period advertising featured the phrase "Game of Cards" prominently, but only the words "Play Cards" actually appear on the game itself. Little is known about the machine's designer, leaving enthusiasts to speculate about its origins. Regardless, this 1932 pure mechanical pinball machine remains an important piece of history for collectors and historians alike.