The Derby

The Derby, manufactured by Mechanical Manufacturing Company of Chicago in 1932, is one of the earliest known pinball machines. As a Pure Mechanical (PM) game, it predates the introduction of electrically operated flippers and scoring devices that would become standard in later pinball designs.

No specific notable features, gameplay mechanics, or playfield details have been documented for The Derby, which is typical for many surviving records of games from this very early period of pinball history. Its mechanical operation and simple design are nonetheless representative of the earliest wave of coin-operated pinball tables produced in Chicago during 1932.

Unfortunately, very little information about the game's designer, theme, or artwork is available, making The Derby something of a mystery to historians and enthusiasts alike.