Skipper

The Skipper pinball machine, manufactured by Bally in 1936, holds a place in the early history of the game. As one of the earliest electromechanical (EM) machines produced by Bally (Model 61, single-player), it comes from a period well before flippers existed -- flippers were not introduced until 1947 -- so gameplay would have relied on a plunger-launched ball, bumpers, and mechanical scoring via relays and switches.

Specific details of Skipper's rules, artwork, and theme are not well documented. Given the nautical name, it may have carried a boating or seafaring motif typical of novelty machines of the era, but this cannot be confirmed from available records.

While little is known about this particular machine, its existence as one of Bally's earliest products makes it an interesting piece for collectors and historians of the game, representing an early stepping stone in the development of modern pinball.