Rapid Fire

The Rapid Fire, manufactured by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in January 1935, is a payout machine from a period when pinball was transitioning from purely mechanical games to those incorporating electrical components. This shift would eventually help transform the industry, though the fully flipper-driven pinball most players know today was still more than a decade away.

Gameplay-wise, the Rapid Fire's electro-mechanical design likely included electromagnets and relays to control gameplay elements such as bumpers and scoring mechanisms, since specific details are scarce. As a payout machine, its appeal centered on wagering skillful shots rather than the ramps and flippers of later pinball. The exact nature of its features remains only partly documented today.

Despite its age, the Rapid Fire retains an air of mystique due to its lack of documentation and historical records. Its design and artwork are typical of the period, with simple, utilitarian graphics. Its early adoption of electromechanical components makes it a piece of the broader development of pre-flipper pinball.