Bristol Hills

Bristol Hills, designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Art Stenholm, was manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in January 1971. This two-player electro-mechanical (EM) machine embodies the spirit of winter sports with its skiing and snowmobiling theme. It is a Novelty Play version of Gottlieb's 1970 'Snow Derby', made especially for Bilotta Distributing in Newark, New York; Bristol Hills was the name of a resort in the region, and distributor John Bilotta had Gottlieb produce the machine under that name. Only 110 units were made, making it a genuinely rare Gottlieb title.

The machine boasts a solid array of features, including two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, seven stand-up targets, two spinning targets, and four kick-out holes, along with a right ball return lane and end-of-ball bonus. The maximum displayed score is 9,999 points per player, and the sound system is simple yet effective, with three chimes providing an unmistakable audio signature.

Because replays were not permitted under New York State rules, this adaptation used an extra ball feature instead: a "Same Player Shoots Again" awarded one extra ball per ball in play when winning scores were achieved, up to a maximum of four per player per game. That regulatory workaround, combined with its tiny production run and resort tie-in, makes Bristol Hills an intriguing and desirable addition to any serious pinball collection.