Whirlaway

The Whirlaway, manufactured by the Roy McGinnis Company of Baltimore, Maryland, is a rare electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from 1943. It was a conversion of several earlier Bally one-ball games, including 'Sport Event,' 'Sport Special,' 'Record Time,' 'Dark Horse,' and 'Blue Grass' -- a common wartime practice as manufacturers repurposed existing cabinets rather than build new machines from scratch.

Gameplay on the Whirlaway is straightforward, with a single player aiming to score points by navigating a steel ball around the playfield. Notable features include a console cabinet and a backglass measuring 23 by 23 inches. Its horse racing theme fit the sports-themed pinball trend of the era.

Little is known about the machine's designer or specific art beyond its horse racing theme. Nonetheless, this rare machine remains an interesting find for collectors and enthusiasts seeking to understand the development of wartime-era electro-mechanical pinball.