Magic Lamp
About This Machine
The Magic Lamp is an unusual electro-mechanical pinball machine from 1937, manufactured by J. H. Keeney and Company of Chicago. It was built as a one-ball payout machine, using a light source, three strategically placed mirrors, and a photo-electric vacuum tube to create an invisible light beam that zig-zags across the playfield instead of the holes or bumpers found on typical machines of the era.
Each time a ball crosses the beam, the score increases on a backglass projection totalizer; a score card shows what totals must be reached, and a backglass odds indicator shows the payout for those scores. The absence of holes or bumpers gives the game an unusual, almost invisible obstacle course for players to navigate. The cabinet measures 23 inches wide by 54 inches long.
A non-payout novelty version of this same game was released the same year as Keeney's 'Fire Ball.' Little else is documented about Magic Lamp's designer or original release reception, but its light-beam scoring mechanism makes it a distinctive piece of 1930s pinball engineering.
Images (1)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 1-ball payout play. Playfield has no holes or bumpers. A light source, three strategically placed mirrors, and a photo-electric vacuum tube create an invisible light beam zig-zagging across the playfield. Each time a ball breaks the path of the beam, the score is increased on the backglass projection totalizer. The score card shows what scores have to be made, and the backglass odds indicator shows what achieving the scores will pay on that play. Cabinet is 23 inches wide by 54 inches long.