Forward Pass (Junior)

The Forward Pass (Junior) from A. M. Amusement Games is a rare and fascinating piece of pinball history, dating to February 1934. As an early electromechanical (EM) pinball machine, it represents a milestone in the evolution of the game, produced during the formative years of pinball's development.

Gameplay on this machine is flipperless, relying on the traditional EM mechanisms of its era rather than flipper controls, which had not yet been invented. The game's compact size, advertised at 22 inches by 44 inches, made it a smaller companion to the Senior and Marvel models the company also produced. Forward Pass (Junior) reflects the growing popularity of the sports-themed pinball genre in the 1930s. Notably, A. M. Amusement Games closed its doors in 1934 and reopened in Chicago as Century Manufacturing Company, which also produced a version of this same game.

While details about the game's designer and specific features are scarce, the machine's theme is a quintessential representation of 1930s American culture and the emerging popularity of football. The lack of additional information only adds to the enigmatic allure of Forward Pass (Junior), making it a treasure for pinball collectors and enthusiasts who appreciate the earliest days of this beloved game.