Hy-Skor

The Hy-Skor, manufactured by Device Manufacturers, Incorporated of Youngstown, Ohio in November 1931, is one of the earliest known pinball machines. As a pure mechanical (PM) tabletop/counter game, it predates the electromechanical and solid-state games that followed, making it a significant piece of pinball history.

The gameplay features of the Hy-Skor are straightforward yet intriguing. Players insert 5 cents for 10 balls and use a wooden shooter knob to launch them onto the playfield. Balls are lifted to the shooter alley by rotating a wooden knob on the right side of the cabinet. The game's compact size, measuring 38 inches long by 16 inches wide, reflects its tabletop/counter-game format.

Not much is known about the design, art, or theme of the Hy-Skor, which is not surprising given its age and rarity. Its minimalist mechanical construction and simple gameplay mechanics make it a fascinating example of pinball's earliest coin-operated era.