Border-Town

Border-Town, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in June 1940, is an early entry in the long catalog of one of pinball's most important companies. Designed by Harry Mabs with artwork by Roy Parker, this Western-themed machine centered on oil exploration presents a blend of mechanics and artwork that reflects the era's fascination with the American frontier.

Border-Town is a flipperless electro-mechanical game featuring sixteen spring bumpers, a configuration common in pinball machines of the period. Players launch the ball and watch it carom among the bumpers to accumulate points, with skill expressed through the strength and timing of the plunge. Its design is notable for its simplicity, reflecting pinball technology as it stood before the introduction of flippers later in the decade.

Limited information exists about Border-Town's history beyond its technical specifications. However, as a pre-war Gottlieb game from the Mabs/Parker team, it offers insight into the development of pinball during this period. For collectors and enthusiasts, its age makes it a tangible link to the pioneering days of the pinball industry.