Sensation of 1937

The Sensation of 1937 is a flipperless electro-mechanical pinball machine from Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company, released in May 1937 with a confirmed production run of 1,097 units.

One of the standout features of the Sensation is its innovative use of 17 spring bumpers and 2 ballgates, which created a unique gameplay experience for players. The machine's 'Duble-Spring' Skill Row -- a column of bumpers segregated from the rest of the playfield by rows of coil springs, marked by two flashing lamps that light every time a bumper is hit -- allowed the ball to score multiple bumper hits on its way down the column, with a gate on each side opening when earned to let a ball enter the column from the side. The projection score on the backglass added an extra layer of visual interest to the game.

The Sensation's theme, centered on high diving, recreation, and swimming, reflects the era's enthusiasm for aquatic leisure activities. Certain art elements -- including a blonde woman featured prominently and other stylistic details -- have led some to speculate the artist was Roy Parker, though this cannot be confirmed with certainty. This machine remains an interesting piece of pinball history from Chicago Coin's 1930s output.