Spinner

The Spinner, produced by Bally Manufacturing Corporation in 1936, holds a place in the early days of electromechanical (EM) pinball machines. As one of Bally's early pinball games, it showcases the company's emerging presence in the industry during this formative period.

The gameplay on the Spinner remains somewhat mysterious due to its age and lack of documentation. Based on typical EM designs of the mid-1930s, players can expect a straightforward layout with bumpers and simple scoring features, operated by plunging the ball into play and gently manipulating the cabinet -- flippers would not be invented for another decade, so ball control at this time depended entirely on the initial shot and skillful nudging.

Unfortunately, there is little known about the Spinner's original artwork or theme, as was common during this period when many games were not branded with specific characters. Nevertheless, its age and rarity make it a notable piece in any pinball collection, highlighting Bally's early contributions to the development of electromechanical pinball, a step toward the more sophisticated games that followed in later decades.