Gems

Gems is an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from Daval Manufacturing Co., one of the manufacturers active in Chicago's competitive pinball market of the late 1930s. Produced in 1939, with a confirmed production run of 1,016 units, Gems offers a glimpse into the game's mechanics and design during this formative period, when games were priced as low as three balls for an Old English penny in some markets.

The gameplay on Gems is built around 13 spring bumpers, a feature common to pinball machines of this period that added an extra layer of unpredictability to the player's experience. The machine also features four electromagnets, likely used for ball control or scoring mechanisms, adding mechanical complexity typical of late-1930s design.

Unfortunately, little information is available on the specific design, art, or theme of Gems, reflecting the scarcity of documentation from this era. Nevertheless, with over a thousand confirmed units produced, Gems represents a solidly commercial entry from Daval Manufacturing Co. and a useful data point for collectors and historians studying the pinball industry of the late 1930s.