3 Across

The 3 Across, manufactured by Bally in 1936, is one of the earliest examples of the company's commercial pinball output. As a single-player electro-mechanical (EM) machine (Model 63), it predates the introduction of flippers by more than a decade, so play would have centered on a plunger-launched ball interacting with bumpers, targets, and mechanical switches and relays that registered scores.

The name '3 Across' suggests a scoring scheme built around aligning or completing three targets or lanes, in the spirit of many novelty EM games of the period, though the exact rules are not documented in surviving records.

Little is known about the machine's original theme or design specifics, leaving enthusiasts to appreciate it as an early example of the genre. Its age and rarity make it an intriguing piece for collectors and historians seeking to understand pinball's development from its humble, pre-flipper beginnings.