Whirlpool

The Whirlpool, manufactured by the Whirlpool Sales Agency Incorporated of Youngstown, Ohio in February 1932, is a pure mechanical pinball machine — a squarepin table with a round playfield. It predates the electromechanical and electronic eras that would come to define the industry.

Little is documented about the specific gameplay or design of the Whirlpool beyond its mechanical construction; as a single-player game of this era, it likely relied on gravity and manual manipulation rather than flippers, which had not yet been invented. A tabletop counter version, 'Whirlpool Jr.,' was also released by the company, along with the related games 'Whir-Pool' and 'Whir-Pool Jr.'

Given its age, detailed information about the Whirlpool Sales Agency Incorporated and its role in early pinball history is scarce. Still, the Whirlpool remains a fascinating artifact for enthusiasts interested in the earliest days of coin-operated amusement games — predating even Bally (founded the same year, 1932) and following shortly after Gottlieb (founded 1927).