Lite-A-Line
About This Machine
The J. H. Keeney and Company Incorporated's 1962 Lite-A-Line is an electro-mechanical rolldown game that is mechanically identical to Keeney's 'Roll-A-Line,' released the same year, but sold under a different backglass and name. The manual and schematic that came with the machine both refer to it as "Roll-A-Line," and the reason for the name change on the backglass is unknown; the only period reference found is a single mention in a 1962 issue of Cash Box magazine.
Gameplay on Lite-A-Line is characterized by its "kicker bar" system: players can strategically kick non-scoring balls, which have settled along the back wall, back onto the playfield using either "flipper" (kicker) button. This requires timing and strategy, since fewer scoring holes remain open as the game progresses. The machine's laminated plastic playfield and wood-framed backglass, which hinges open for service, are shared with its Roll-A-Line twin.
Because it is essentially a rebadged Roll-A-Line, little unique information exists about Lite-A-Line specifically -- including how many of these alternate backglasses were produced. Nonetheless, it remains an interesting curiosity for collectors interested in Keeney's rolldown lineup and the mystery behind its renaming.
Images (31)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 6 balls per player, 1 ball per frame, 6 frames per game. Trap holes (24), Ball kicker (1). Backglass in wood frame hinges open for service access. Laminated plastic playfield. The array platform of 24 holes is slanted towards the rear of the game, and any balls that miss the holes will settle along the back wall of the game. Along the length of the back wall is a slot in the wood hiding a metal rod "kic ker bar". When non-scoring balls settle along this wall, the player can press either " flipper " button to pulse this kic ker bar outward, kicking these balls back onto the grid area for possible scoring. The more balls that have already scored, the fewer holes remain available, and the player may have to repeatedly kick the balls back into play until they can score. A strategy is possible when a non-scoring ball rolls along the back wall, allowing the player to time the kick with a desired available hole.