Progress

The Progress pinball machine, manufactured by D. Robbins and Company of Brooklyn, New York in December 1933, holds a place in the early history of pinball as a pure mechanical (PM) machine - meaning it used no electricity at all, relying entirely on mechanical action to move and score the ball. Machines like Progress represent an early wave of commercially produced countertop and floor-model pinball games that followed in the wake of 1931's 'Baffle Ball.'

Gameplay on Progress reflects the simplicity of pure mechanical design: without flippers (which would not be invented until 1947) or any electrical scoring, players relied on the plunger and gravity to route the ball among fixed pins and scoring holes on the playfield.

Unfortunately, little is known about the design, art, or theme of Progress specifically. Its manufacturer, D. Robbins and Company, was an early player in the pinball industry, but specific details about this particular machine remain elusive. Nonetheless, its age and pure-mechanical construction make it a fascinating artifact for those interested in the origins of pinball.