Carom

The Carom, manufactured by Bally in January 1937, is one of the earlier and more enigmatic machines in Bally's catalog. A product of the pre-flipper era, it marks a moment when coin-operated games were evolving from simple bagatelle-style toys into more sophisticated electro-mechanical entertainment. Carom is a flipperless, one-ball payout machine, made in two versions: a cash payout model and a ticket vendor, reflecting the gambling-adjacent side of the 1930s coin-op trade.

The playfield boasts an impressive 28 scoring bumpers, and an electric kicker at the bottom of the playfield propels the ball back up to the top, keeping the single ball in action. The game measures 54 by 26 inches. Its engineering was formally protected as well: Patent No. 1,802,521 ("Game Apparatus") was issued to George H. Miner, and Patent No. 2,010,966 ("Game of Skill") was issued to H.W. Seiden et al. for the payout mechanism.

The Carom's significance lies not only in its age but also in its relatively unknown status among collectors and historians. Little research has been conducted on this particular machine, making it a fascinating subject for those interested in the development of pinball and Bally's early contributions to the industry.