Robin Hood

The Robin Hood pinball machine, released by Renov' Automatic - Jolux (trade name J. Martina) of France in 1969, is a conversion of Gottlieb's 1964 'Ship-Mates,' repurposed with a historical-character theme and playfield artwork by Jean Amiot. Its playfield design resembles that of Williams' 1967 'Jolly Roger.' Converting existing machines with new themes and artwork was a common practice for Martina in this period.

Robin Hood's gameplay retains the electromechanical hardware of its Ship-Mates base, including two flippers, four pop bumpers, two slingshots, and three standup targets. Sources differ on how consistently Martina retained the original drop-down cabinet design during conversions -- some report only the earliest conversions kept it before the lower cabinet section was sawed off to modernize the look, while others say Martina used whatever cabinets were available regardless of style.

While little is documented about specific design choices beyond its artist, Robin Hood is a notable example of the European practice of converting existing American pinball machines with new themes, and it remains an interesting piece of pinball history for collectors researching Renov' Automatic - Jolux's output.