Green Lights

Green Lights is a rare electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from Daval Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, a relatively short-lived but significant player in the industry, active between 1934 and 1939. Its exact production year is unknown, which is not uncommon for machines from this era, but its existence highlights the rapid evolution of the game during the 1930s.

The gameplay features that set Green Lights apart include the use of five balls for a mere five cents, along with eight scoring bumpers and rollover switches that give players opportunities to rack up points quickly. Notably, the outhole is designed as a horizontal trough, an early design choice distinct from the vertical troughs seen on some contemporaries. The full-size backglass, themed around automobile travel and traffic, rounds out the presentation.

While specific details about Green Lights' designer are not available, the machine's combination of gameplay elements and vintage automobile-travel theme make it a fascinating piece for enthusiasts of classic pinball machines. The manufacturer's name appearing on the shooter gauge adds a tangible connection to the era in which it was created.