Royal King

The Royal King, manufactured by Renato Montanari Giochi (R.M.G.) of Bologna, Italy, is a rare and enigmatic electro-mechanical pinball machine. As one of the lesser-known machines from this Italian manufacturer, it offers a glimpse into European pinball production. While its exact year of release is unknown, the game closely resembles Gottlieb's 1974 'Royal Pair,' suggesting it was produced around that time -- R.M.G. games were typically close copies of Gottlieb pinballs, right down to similar artwork.

The Royal King's gameplay features are shrouded in mystery, but as an Add-A-Ball machine closely modeled on its Gottlieb counterpart, it likely shared much of that game's ruleset and layout. Its artwork was done by a graphic artist known as "Mike" (Michele "Mike" Martinelli), whose signature appears on the backglass along with the year of manufacture, a hallmark of R.M.G.'s output.

Unfortunately, little else is known about the Royal King's history or production, making it a true mystery among pinball enthusiasts. Its scarcity only adds to its allure, making it an object of fascination for those seeking to uncover hidden gems in the world of vintage pinball.