Golf Ball
About This Machine
Reith & Company's Golf Ball pinball machine is a rare specimen from the early days of pinball history, manufactured in Wuppertal, Germany in August 1933. This tabletop/counter game with a golf theme is notable for its short-lived manufacturer, which appears to have operated only in 1933.
Gameplay on the Golf Ball is simple yet engaging. Players insert a coin, press a button below the coin slot to drop the playfield balls into position, and then play up to 10 balls across the playfield for 5 Pfennig. A "Figure 8" layout adds an element of challenge as players try to navigate their ball through tight spaces, and a gold-colored ball scores double points.
Golf Ball's design reflects its era, with a compact cabinet measuring about 80cm long, 43cm wide, and 20-24cm high. A key lock at the bottom of the cabinet allows the bottom panel to hinge open for service, and an old handwritten note glued inside instructs operators to lubricate the coin slide. Little is known about the designer or any trivia surrounding this particular machine, but the Golf Ball remains an intriguing piece of early European pinball history.
Images (12)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Sports - Golf
- Notable Features:
- 10 balls for 5 Pfennig. After inserting coin, pressing the button below the coin slot drops the playfield balls to be ready for play. Gold ball scores double. "Figure 8" playfield layout. Game measures 80cm long, about 43cm wide, 20cm high in the front, and 24 cm high in the back. The key lock is at the bottom of the cabinet front and allows the bottom panel of the cabinet to hinge open from the rest of the cabinet.