Auto Winner

The Auto Winner pinball machine, manufactured by A.B.T. Manufacturing Company in 1935, is an example of early electro-mechanical (EM) payout pinball design. Produced during pinball's formative years — well over a decade before the sport's later "golden age" of the late 1940s and 1950s — the Auto Winner showcases the experimentation that defined early pinball development.

The gameplay of the Auto Winner reflects the electro-mechanical design of its time. As a single-player payout machine, it likely used solenoids and relays to control mechanisms such as scoring reels and payout components; flippers were not part of pinball design until their introduction in 1947, more than a decade after this machine was built. The unique feature of this machine lies in its simplicity, with a minimalistic design that reflects the era's emphasis on basic gameplay mechanics over elaborate themes or artwork.

Unfortunately, little else is known about the Auto Winner beyond its basic specifications and production date. As such, there is no discernible theme, art style, or notable design elements that set this machine apart from others of its era. Nevertheless, its rarity and age make it an item of interest among collectors and historians who study the evolution of pinball's payout-machine lineage.