Action

The Action pinball machine, produced by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in April 1943, is a notable relic of early pinball history from the World War II era. A conversion of Exhibit's 1941 'Stars,' it reflects how manufacturers adapted existing hardware to wartime constraints. Its electro-mechanical design and warfare/aviation theme are characteristic of the era, offering a glimpse into the evolution of pinball as flipperless gameplay gave way, later in the decade, to flipper-equipped machines.

The Action features 14 passive bumpers, a relatively large number for an EM machine of this period, providing players with multiple opportunities to score points. The inclusion of a time clock adds an element of challenge. What makes the Action notable is its affordability: five balls could be played for just five cents, making it accessible to a wide range of players. As IPDB notes, Exhibit did not release its first flipper game ('Build Up') until January 1948; operators later retrofitted flipperless games like Action with flippers, often placed in unusual playfield positions.

The machine's artwork and design are quintessentially 1940s military-themed, with imagery and typography referencing wartime aviation. The ESCO logo adorns the cabinet, and while little is known about the designer, the Action remains an intriguing example of the era's pinball innovations.