Big Shot

The Big Shot, manufactured by Gotham Pressed Steel Corporation in 1937, is an early example of a pure mechanical (PM) pinball/bagatelle game, predating the electric and electromechanical machines that followed.

Gameplay on the Big Shot follows the simple bagatelle format typical of the period: players launch balls with a manual plunger onto a small playing field studded with pins and scoring pockets, aiming for the highest total. The mechanics are straightforward, but scoring well still rewards a steady touch.

One notable aspect of the Big Shot's design is its steel construction paired with a playing board of hard pressed cardboard and a cardboard back, measuring 12 1/4 x 24 1/4 inches - reflecting the era's resourceful use of readily available materials. Little information survives about its original artwork or theme, but its construction (protected by two U.S. patents) stands as a testament to the mechanical ingenuity of early pinball pioneers.