Black-Jack

Black-Jack, manufactured by Acorn Vending Company in 1932, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of the earliest pure mechanical pinball machines with a cards/gambling theme. As a pioneering game from the infancy of the industry, Black-Jack offers a glimpse into the developmental stages of what would become a beloved hobby for many.

Notably, Black-Jack was sold in an unusual way: a manufacturer advertisement offered it as a playfield-only conversion kit (for $4.85 in single lots) that could be used to convert other 1-cent and 5-cent machines of the day - including Allswell's 'Oh Yeah!', Bally's 'Ballyhoo', Buckley Manufacturing's 'Favorite', and Pierce Tool's 'Hoop-Er-Doo' - or purchased as a complete machine with a walnut cabinet and coin chute. The cabinet pictured in surviving records measures 31 inches long by 16 3/4 inches wide, standing 7 3/4 inches high in front and 9 1/4 inches high in back, with a removable rear access door.

Despite a lack of information about the designer or specific gameplay mechanics, Black-Jack stands out due to its age, rarity, and unusual conversion-kit business model. Its pure mechanical operation, typical of early pinballs, demonstrates the resourceful and often improvisational nature of the industry during its formative years.