First National

The First National pinball machine, manufactured by Bally in 1936, holds a place in the early history of pinball as part of the extensive lineup Bally had already developed by the mid-1930s. It represents a step in the continued evolution of electromechanical (EM) pinball technology as a payout machine, part of a company whose model numbers by this point had already climbed past 100, reflecting a rapid pace of releases in the industry's formative years.

The gameplay features of First National are characteristic of early EM payout machines, with a focus on basic mechanics such as a plunger-launched ball, obstacles, and scoring mechanisms tied to a payout system. However, there is limited information available about its specific design, artwork, or theme. This scarcity of details makes the machine all the more intriguing to enthusiasts who appreciate the mystery surrounding its original configuration.

While not among Bally's earliest machines, First National is nonetheless a product of the company's active mid-1930s payout-machine business, offering collectors and historians another data point in tracing the rapid model-to-model evolution of Bally's early pinball and payout lineup.