World's Fair

The World pinball machine, manufactured by Bally in October 1938, holds a place in the evolution of early pinball history as one of Bally's electro-mechanical, flipperless machines from its formative years. Its existence predates the invention of the flipper (which wouldn't arrive until 1947) and many of the conventions that would come to define the game.

Gameplay on World is built around 5-ball play, meaning each game consists of five balls played sequentially - a standard convention of the period, rather than any kind of multiball or simultaneous-ball feature. As a flipperless machine, players had no flipper controls; scoring relied on skillful plunging, playfield tilt, and the natural roll of the ball guided by targets and lanes rather than active ball control.

Little is known about World beyond its technical specifications and historical significance, including its designer or specific artwork. Nonetheless, enthusiasts will find fascination in World's place within the early electro-mechanical, flipperless era of pinball, serving as a testament to Bally's long history in the industry, which stretched from 1931 to 1983.