Skill-Roll

The Skill-Roll, released by Bally in March 1958, is often mistaken for a pinball machine because of its similar cabinet and playfield layout, but IPDB classifies it as a novelty trade game rather than a true pinball — it operates on penny or nickel play rather than standard pinball scoring. Roughly 1,500 units were produced.

The machine features eight ball shooters, letting players launch multiple balls, along with a distinctive sound package of a bell and a wooden box chime that adds a nostalgic character to the game. A sample with serial number "BA 1820" is documented with a yellow playfield backside rather than the more common gray.

Little is known about the machine's designer or theme, but Skill-Roll remains historically notable as a precursor to later "skill roll" style games, including HanaHo's 1998 SkillShot. It stands as an interesting curiosity in Bally's catalog — a game shaped like a pinball machine but built around different mechanics.