Bonanza

The Bonanza, designed by Gordon Horlick and manufactured by Williams in November 1947, is a notable electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine with a special place in the company's history: it is the last flipperless pinball machine Williams ever made. Released in the very year the flipper was introduced to the industry, Bonanza marks the end of an era for the young manufacturer.

The gameplay is straightforward yet engaging, with 12 passive bumpers and four kick-out holes providing the scoring action. A distinctive touch of its construction is that all of the components inside the lower cabinet are placed onto a full-scale wiring diagram, a convenience for servicing that collectors still find charming today.

Williams' original playfield drawing for the game is dated September 12, 1947 and signed with the initials GTH, for Gordon T. Horlick. For those interested in the earliest days of Williams and the final moments of the flipperless age, the Bonanza offers a fascinating snapshot of pinball at a turning point.