Vend-A-Gift

The Vend-A-Gift, dating to 1935, is a rare and poorly documented payout pinball machine of unknown manufacture. The surviving Billboard advertisement for it was placed by Paragon Vending Machine Company, which was likely a distributor rather than the actual manufacturer. While not among the very earliest pinball machines -- several other games from 1932-1933 predate it -- it remains a scarce and little-studied piece of Depression-era pinball history.

Gameplay centered on skillful ball play that awarded prizes displayed under the playfield glass, a mechanic shared with other 'payout' style games of the period, such as Royal Novelty Company's 1934 'Golden Arrow.' The cabinet measured 42 inches long, 26 inches wide, and 38 inches high.

Beyond these details, the Vend-A-Gift's specific theme, designer, and manufacturer remain unknown, leaving much of its history a mystery for collectors and researchers to piece together.