Shells
About This Machine
Shells, manufactured by Western Equipment & Supply Company between 1934 and 1938 (this example dated January 1936), is an early electro-mechanical (EM) payout pinball machine. Although the name 'Shells' appears on the playfield, the game was advertised as 'Shell Game.'
Gameplay features on Shells are straightforward, reflecting the payout-machine conventions of its era: players aimed to land the ball in scoring positions to earn payouts, well before flippers were introduced to pinball design in 1947. Specific details of its targets and scoring mechanisms are not well documented today.
Despite its age, Shells is an example of 1930s industrial aesthetic, featuring a plain, metal cabinet with a simple, geometric art style reflective of the utilitarian approach many early pinball manufacturers took, prioritizing durability and functionality over elaborate decoration. It offers a glimpse into the formative years of pinball's development from a manufacturer that operated for only a few years.