Jimmy Valentine
About This Machine
The Jimmy Valentine, manufactured by the Scientific Machine Corporation in January 1936, is a flipperless electro-mechanical pinball machine and an intriguing artifact of the pre-flipper era. The machine's unique gameplay feature and period aesthetic make it an attractive addition to any serious collector's or enthusiast's collection.
A key aspect of Jimmy Valentine's gameplay is its "safe" mechanism: getting balls into the holes above the tin litho "safe" doors, then dropping one into the center hole above those two, pops the doors open, allowing access to the holes inside the safe for a higher score. The machine was originally battery operated, though surviving examples, including the one documented on IPDB, have been converted to line power.
The game is named for the fictional master burglar and safecracker "Jimmy Valentine," created by O. Henry (William Sydney Porter) in his 1909 short story "Alias Jimmy Valentine," which had already inspired silent film adaptations in 1915, 1920, and 1928. Notably, "The Return of Jimmy Valentine" hit theaters in February 1936, just a month after this game's release -- suggesting the machine may have been timed to capitalize on the character's ongoing popularity.
Images (5)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Fictional Characters
- Notable Features:
- When you get the balls in the holes above the tin litho "safe" doors, and then drop one in the center hole above those two, the doors pop open and you can get a higher score from the holes in the safe! Battery operated, although the game pictured below was converted to line power.