Attention

Attention, an electro-mechanical pinball machine from Bally Manufacturing Corporation, was released in November 1940. Its aircraft and naval-warfare theme reflects the aviation and military preoccupations of the era, as war was already underway in Europe even though the United States had not yet entered the conflict.

Attention features 15 passive bumpers, a relatively common characteristic for EM machines of this era. A notable gameplay mechanic allows players to light all numbers and hit the blue bumper to activate part of the ball slide, awarding additional balls.

The design and art of Attention are representative examples of early-1940s pinball aesthetics tied to aviation themes. While little is documented about its specific designer, Attention remains an interesting piece of pinball history reflecting Bally's output in the years leading up to America's entry into World War II.