Cadillac

The Genco Manufacturing Company's 1940 Cadillac is an appealing find for collectors of pre-flipper pinball. Released in May 1940, this flipperless electro-mechanical game comes from a well-established Chicago manufacturer that had been producing coin-operated games since 1931, and it captures the state of pinball design just before America's entry into World War II.

Gameplay on the Cadillac is characterized by its simplicity: players got five balls for 5 cents and sent them through a field of no fewer than 18 spring bumpers. The scoring was distinctive in that there was no 100-point scoring at all — every bumper scored 1,000 points. The sound design is equally minimalistic, relying on a single bell to punctuate the action.

Notably, the Cadillac's designer and theme remain undocumented, which is typical of games from this era. As a flipperless machine, it relied entirely on the plunger shot and gravity rather than player-controlled flippers, which would not appear in pinball until 1947. The Cadillac showcases early pinball engineering and offers a glimpse into the humble beginnings of what would become a beloved hobby for millions worldwide.