Baffle Ball Home Game

The Baffle Ball Home Game, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in December 1931, is a significant artifact in the history of pinball. As a Pure Mechanical, non-commercial home model, it was released the same year as Gottlieb's massively successful coin-operated Baffle Ball, demonstrating the company's quick move to bring the game into players' homes alongside its arcade version.

The gameplay features are characteristic of a Pure Mechanical design, with players competing for points by plunging the ball through a fixed arrangement of pins and scoring holes -- flippers were still more than a decade away from being invented. One notable aspect is the manual scoring system: two players can keep separate running totals of their scores using manual pointers located below the playfield, a thoughtful addition for a two-player home game. An alternate version of this game exists without these manual pointers.

Measuring a compact 23 by 14 inches, the Baffle Ball Home Game offers a glimpse into the early days of the pinball industry and Gottlieb's role in popularizing it. Its rarity and direct connection to one of the first great pinball successes make it a valuable addition to any collection, though little is documented about its original artwork or theme.