Bonanza

The Bonanza, produced by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago in September 1935, is an early electro-mechanical payout machine from the years before flippers existed. Games of this type rewarded players directly with coin payouts, and they represent a fascinating chapter in the pre-war history of coin-operated amusements.

As a flipperless machine, the Bonanza offered no way to redirect the ball once it was launched; play depended on the shooter's skill and on chance as the ball made its way down the playfield. The game runs on two 6-volt dry cell batteries rather than wall power, a common arrangement in the mid-1930s.

The machine measures 42 inches long, 22 inches wide, and stands 42 inches high when on its legs. Little else is documented about its designer or theme, but as an example of the payout games that flourished in the mid-1930s, the Bonanza offers a glimpse into the infancy of the coin-op industry and the ingenuity of its creators.