Favorit

T.H. Bergmann & Company's Favorit (1939) is a flipperless electro-mechanical pinball machine from Hamburg, Germany, with a horse racing theme. Produced during the company's early years (1938-1968), it reflects the sports-themed bagatelle and pinball games that were already a popular subject in the pre-war amusement industry.

The Favorit is notable for its 15 passive bumpers, of which 12 are spring-type, and for being battery operated rather than powered by mains electricity -- an unusual design choice for the period. Gameplay is simple, with the ball interacting with bumpers and targets to score points, consistent with the flipperless machines of the era, which relied on skillful plunging and table positioning rather than flipper control.

The Favorit's artwork reflects its horse racing theme, though little is documented about its designer or artist. One surviving example had its batteries replaced with a transformer as early as 1948, according to pencil markings found inside the cabinet -- an interesting record of the practical challenges of maintaining battery-powered games. As an early example of German pinball manufacturing, the Favorit provides valuable insight into the industry's development outside the United States during the 1930s.