Skate King

The Skate King, manufactured by Briarwood, a division of Brunswick Manufacturing Company, in 1977, is a notable home-model entry from the solid-state electronic era of pinball. Its skateboarding theme taps into the growing popularity of action sports in the late 1970s, and it reflects Briarwood's early adoption of solid-state technology in a non-commercial, home-market machine.

Gameplay on Skate King features two flippers, two pop bumpers, two slingshots, and a standup target, played with five steel balls beneath a plexiglas backglass. It shares a common owner's manual with several other Briarwood/Brunswick home models of the period, including Super Star, Rodeo, Demolition Classic, Cosmic Pinball, and Circus.

The Skate King's design and artwork reflect the energy of the skateboarding culture, with its backglass depicting the theme through a stylized illustration. As a single-player home solid-state machine from a relatively short-lived manufacturer, it remains a distinctive find for collectors interested in 1970s home pinball.