Cannon Fire Jr.

The Cannon Fire Jr. is a rare electro-mechanical pinball machine manufactured by Mills Novelty Company of Chicago in November 1934, under license from designer Kenneth C. Shyvers and his Shyvers Coin Automatic Machine Company, which had introduced the original version earlier that same year. As one of several licensed and derivative "Cannon Fire" games Mills and Shyvers produced in the mid-1930s (including the larger "Cannon Fire (Big)" and the later "Cannon Fire (Standard)"), it reflects the collaborative licensing arrangements common among early pinball manufacturers.

As with most pinball machines of 1934, Cannon Fire Jr. predates the invention of the flipper by well over a decade, relying instead on skillful shooting and mechanical ball-control elements typical of the era rather than player-controlled paddles. Specific gameplay mechanics and cabinet measurements for this particular Mills-produced version are not well documented.

The Cannon Fire Jr.'s relative rarity among early pinball collectors makes it a sought-after find. Little detailed information about its artwork or specific theme survives, adding to its allure as an enigmatic piece of 1930s pinball history.