Race King

The Sullivan-Nolan Advertising Company's 1943 'Race King' pinball machine is a rare example of early electro-mechanical (EM) pinball design, converted from two earlier Bally games, 'Seabiscuit' (1938) and 'Thistledowns' (1938). As one of the games produced during World War II's material shortages, it reflects how manufacturers repurposed existing machines rather than tooling up new production during this period.

The gameplay of Race King, like other pre-1947 pinball machines, predates the flipper: players earned points by launching the ball via plunger and relying on bumpers, targets, and gravity, with skillful nudging of the cabinet as the main way to influence the ball's path. Without a specific theme or elaborate artwork documented, the machine's aesthetic likely reflected the clean, functional style typical of early pinball design.

Little is known about the designer or notable features of Race King, which only adds to its mystique. Its January 1943 production date and wartime conversion history make it a notable example of pre-flipper EM design, offering collectors and historians a window into the pioneering era of pinball.