Chicago Express
About This Machine
The Chicago Express, manufactured by Daval Manufacturing Co. in January 1935, is a charming electro-mechanical pin game that showcases inventive gameplay and design. The game gives players ten balls for a nickel — actually nine white china marbles and one green china marble that scores double. Its centerpiece is an elevated track simulating Chicago's iconic elevated train, along which a marble is moved by two Vertical Up Kickers (VUKs) while lights flash briefly as they fire. Period advertising promised players the "zipping, thrilling" spectacle of balls being elevated and sent down the tracks as the whole train lights up and balls in the Express Stations advance simultaneously.
What sets the Chicago Express apart from its contemporaries are its clever gameplay mechanics and attention to detail. There is no outhole: two kickback lanes in the lower left and lower right of the playfield propel wayward balls back into the scoring areas until they land in score pockets. A bell rings when a ball is shot to the high-score area, adding an extra layer of excitement.
The railroad theme is beautifully represented through the machine's lighting effects and elevated-track action, paying homage to Chicago's iconic transportation system — the elevated track even invites comparison to the habitrails of modern solid state games. An improved version was released in April 1935, and the Chicago Express remains an intriguing piece of pinball history that continues to captivate enthusiasts and collectors alike.
Images (14)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- American Places - Railroads - Trains
- Notable Features:
- Ten balls for 5 cents. Actually, nine white china marbles and one green china marble that scores double. A marble on the elevated track simulates Chicago's elevated train, moved along the track by two Vertical Up Kic kers (VUKs). Lights turn on briefly when the VUKs fire. A bell rings when the ball is shot to the high score area. No outhole on this game: two kickback lanes, in lower left and lower right of playfield, propel wayward balls back into scoring areas until they land in score pockets. This italicized information was taken from an advertisement: Chicago Express is the zipping, thrilling, most fascinating game in pin game history. Read carefully the ACTION the ball creates for the player: 1. Player aims at and shoots ball into 1st top electric elevator, lighting up green go-ahead signal. 2. Ball is elevated instantly and switched onto upper level tracks towards and into the 2nd or bottom electric elevator. 3. As the ball in the 2nd elevator is being lifted and switched to next track, the whole train lights up and all the balls in the bottom Express Stations are automatically and simultaneously advanced into the next higher score stations. 4. When a ball reaches the last Express Station, it is automatically shunted up the board and into the enclosed high score depot. Just imagine the novelty of seeing the balls elevated and sent down the tracks for a fast, thrilling ride. The flashing lights. The simultaneous advance and the speediest shooting ever incorporated into one pin game. That's the CHICAGO EXPRESS -- America's Newest Pin Game Thrill!