Control Tower

Control Tower, manufactured by Williams in March 1951, is an aviation-themed electro-mechanical game from the company's early years. It was designed by Harry Williams, the legendary founder of the company that bears his name, with artwork by George Molentin -- and the manufacturer's original playfield drawing, dated January 12, 1951, still carries Harry Williams' signed initials, HEW.

Key features include two flippers, three pop bumpers, and three kick-out holes, giving players a range of ways to control and score with the ball. An unusual touch is the game's forgiving tilt mechanism: the tilt penalty is only the ball in play, and the tilt is reset when the ball passes through a rollunder wire at the bottom of the playfield below the flippers.

With its aviation theme and its direct connection to one of pinball's founding designers, Control Tower stands as a testament to the spirit of early postwar pinball manufacturing and continues to interest collectors and enthusiasts today.