M-W Pin

The M-W Pin is an early and little-documented pinball machine from Lindstrom Tool and Toy Company's brief run in Bridgeport, Connecticut (1932-1934). It was manufactured by Lindstrom for Montgomery Ward, which likely explains the game's "M-W" name. As a Pure Mechanical (PM) bagatelle-style machine, it represents an early stage in pinball's evolution, well before electromechanical scoring or flippers existed. Patent information on the back of the game indicates a patent was filed January 2, 1934 and issued March 6, 1934, though the patent number was not recorded, and the exact production date remains unknown.

Gameplay on the M-W Pin would have relied entirely on mechanical elements such as a plunger, pins, and scoring pockets, with players relying on skillful shooting rather than any powered assistance -- flippers would not be introduced to pinball for more than another decade. This purely mechanical operation makes it a useful specimen for understanding the formative, pre-electromechanical years of pinball design.

Little is documented about the M-W Pin's specific art or theme, consistent with its manufacturer's short existence and the general lack of surviving records from small toy and game makers of the era. It nonetheless remains a notable artifact for historians and collectors interested in the pioneering years of coin-operated bagatelle and pinball games.