Ticker

The Ticker pinball machine, manufactured by Bally in May 1933, is a Pure Mechanical (PM) table-top/counter game with a business/stock-market theme. Bally (founded as Lion Manufacturing) had already established itself with its first hit, 'Ballyhoo,' in 1931, so Ticker represents an early rather than a founding release, notable for its unique gameplay features that predated modern flipper-based pinball conventions.

The Ticker offers six balls for play at a cost of just five cents, an affordable price point that would have made it accessible to a wide audience. The game's rules are simple yet intriguing: players add up their total score after all six balls have been played and match it with a numeral in one of the yellow squares on the playfield. If successful, they earn free games, adding an extra layer of strategy to the gameplay experience.

The Ticker's design reflects its stock-market theme. Measuring only 28 inches long, 16 inches wide, and 8 inches high, this compact machine would have fit neatly into a corner of any 1930s storefront or home recreation room. Little is known about the designer behind the Ticker, but its historical significance as an early Bally counter game makes it an interesting addition to any collection.