Golden Arrow
About This Machine
The Golden Arrow is a rare electro-mechanical payout machine from 1934, manufactured by the Royal Novelty Company of Baltimore, Maryland. As a specialty payout machine rather than a standard flipper pinball, it reflects a distinct branch of early coin-operated amusement design.
The Golden Arrow's most distinctive feature is its use of prizes placed underneath a plate glass playfield, visible to the player. Players could choose one ball for 5 cents or three balls for 5 cents (a choice fixed at the factory, not adjustable by operators). After the ball ran over the polished glass playing field, it set an arrow in motion; where the arrow came to rest against the numbered display determined the merchandise award. The ball would then clear the primary playing field and continue into a secondary playing field at the bottom of the board for a second chance at winning.
Little is known about the machine's design, art, or theme beyond its mechanics. Its cabinet measured 40 1/2 inches long by 18 1/2 inches wide, reflecting the compact scale typical of early payout machines. It stands as an interesting artifact of the Depression-era coin-operated amusement trade.
Images (6)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 1 ball for 5 cents, or 3 balls for 5 cents. Prizes placed underneath plate glass playfield are visible to the player. Advertised as 40 1/2 inchs long by 18 1/2 inches wide. Explanation of game play: Insert coin in chute which releases balls. Shoot ball as in an ordinary game which runs over a polished glass playing field which, in turn, sets arrow in motion. Arrow comes to rest on numbers. When number corresponds to the merchandise indicated on the display the player gets that award. As arrow spins, ball automatically clears a primary playing field in the big circle and does a few tricks of its own in the secondary playing field at the bottom of the board where the player has a second chance at the winner.