Top Notcher

The Top Notcher, produced by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in November 1939, represents one of the earlier examples of electro-mechanical pinball machines. As a flipperless, single-player EM game, it reflects a transition period when mechanical cabinets were beginning to incorporate electrical scoring and lighting rather than the flipper-driven gameplay that would arrive nearly a decade later.

Gameplay-wise, little detailed information survives about the Top Notcher's specific rules or scoring system, which is typical for games from this early era. Without flippers, play would have relied on skillful plunging and table control to route the ball toward scoring features.

The artwork on the Top Notcher carries a lively theme of dancing, music, and nightlife, with a backglass measuring 22 by 19 inches. This cheerful subject matter was common on games of the late 1930s. Beyond these details, documentation on the machine's design and operational specifics remains scarce.