Broncho

Broncho is a flipperless electro-mechanical pinball machine from 1947, crafted by Genco Manufacturing Company designers Harvey Heiss and Steve Kordek. Released in September 1947, just before flippers swept the industry, Broncho features stationary bumpers that are, curiously, shaped like flippers. After Genco introduced its first true flipper game, 'Triple Action', in January 1948, operators of the era often retrofitted real flippers onto flipperless games like Broncho, and surviving examples show these additions in unusual places on the playfield. With a confirmed production run of 2,260 units, Broncho captures a pivotal moment in pinball history.

The gameplay reflects the ambitions of late-1940s design. Players can choose between three or five ball play across a playfield with four kick-out holes, and the maximum displayed point score of 1,495,000 points was pushing the limits of what was possible at the time. The scoring system rolls over to 1,400,000 after reaching the cap and steps continuously in 5,000-point increments, and there is a fixed replay threshold at 1,000,000 points, with additional operator-set thresholds available at 600,000 through 900,000 points - a challenging yet rewarding setup for players chasing replays.

The art and design capture the spirit of the American West rodeo theme. Notably, the game has no sound at all - no bells and no knocker - a quiet charm that, along with its transitional place in history, makes it an interesting piece for collectors and enthusiasts alike.