Criss Cross

Criss Cross, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company of Chicago in November 1934, is an early pure mechanical pinball machine. Designed by Harvey Heiss, it showcases the innovative spirit of early pinball creators, who were experimenting with gameplay mechanics that would lay the groundwork for future developments. Notably, this fully non-electric game includes a score totalizer built into the aluminum casting in the lower playfield—a clever piece of engineering for a machine with no electricity.

The playfield features ten trap holes, giving players plenty of targets to aim for as they skillfully navigate the ball across the board. The design proved successful enough that Genco followed it with an electromechanical version, the 1935 'Criss Cross A Lite'.

As a piece of pinball history, Criss Cross offers enthusiasts a glimpse into the evolution of the game from its humble beginnings in the 1930s, when clever mechanical solutions stood in for the electric scoring systems that were just beginning to appear.