Classic

The Ace Novelty Company's 1932 'Classic' is one of the earliest known pinball machines, made during the brief 1932-1933 operating window of this Chicago manufacturer. It is a Pure Mechanical (PM) machine, predating the electromechanical and electronic innovations that would come later, and was sold as a conversion kit that could reportedly be installed into any existing machine in about 15 minutes.

Gameplay centers on a distinctive 'Figure 8' playfield layout, offering seven balls for a single cent. As a pure mechanical, pre-flipper game, play relies on the tilt and layout of the playfield rather than any player-controlled flippers, which would not be introduced to pinball until 1947. The horse racing theme reflects the sporting interests popular at the time.

Little is documented about Classic's designer, and the Encyclopedia of Pinball lists it as a conversion game without specifying which machine it converted. Its age and mechanical simplicity make it a notable artifact from pinball's earliest pre-electric era.