Knockout

The Automatic Amusements Company's 1935 Knockout pinball machine is a significant artifact in the early days of the game. It is an electro-mechanical (EM) machine produced by the short-lived, Los Angeles-based Automatic Amusements Company, which operated from 1932 to 1935. The game was designed by Harry Williams, who confirmed his authorship in a 1979 interview with pinball historian Russ Jensen.

As a pre-flipper era EM machine - flippers would not be invented for another twelve years - Knockout's gameplay relied on the mechanical ingenuity typical of mid-1930s pinball rather than player-controlled paddles. Specific details of its ruleset and playfield layout are not well documented.

Unfortunately, due to its age and rarity, not much is known about the specific design or theme of Knockout beyond its utilitarian aesthetic of the period. Nevertheless, as an early example of American EM pinball manufacturing, Knockout remains a fascinating piece in the history of the game, offering insight into designer Harry Williams' early work.