Cueball
About This Machine
The Cueball is an enigmatic and intriguing early pinball machine that warrants attention from historians and collectors alike. Its significance lies in its classification as a Pure Mechanical (PM) pinball, one of the earliest forms of the game. Little is known about this machine's origins, including its manufacturer, designer, or exact release year, making it a fascinating mystery for enthusiasts to unravel.
Key gameplay features set Cueball apart from other early pinball machines. Players engage with the game by inserting 10 balls for just five cents, placing them in a tray at the front of the cabinet. The unique cue stick allows players to launch each ball into play, navigating through a compact, 27 3/4 x 14 3/4 inch playfield consisting of pins and drop holes. Balls that fall into these holes roll beneath the playfield into scoring pockets visible to the player.
While its theme remains unknown, Cueball's design showcases attention to detail and functionality. The cabinet, measuring 34 1/2 inches long by 16 1/4 inches wide, features a thin metal instruction card holder and a built-in locking cash drawer within its mid-section. The use of Plexiglas on the playfield adds a touch of modernity to this early game. For collectors and historians, the Cueball's uniqueness lies in its survival as an intact example of early pinball design and gameplay, offering a glimpse into the evolution of this beloved entertainment form.
Images (13)
Technical Details
- Notable Features:
- 10 balls for 5 cents. Pushing in the coin slide drops the balls to the tray at the front of the game. The player places a ball in the shooter lane and uses the cue stick to launch it into play. The playfield consists of pins and drop holes. Balls falling into the holes roll below the playfield into "scoring pockets" visible to the player. The legs attach to this pin table with wing nuts. The playfield is covered with a sheet of Plexiglas. The playfield measures 27 3/4 inches by 14 3/4 inches. The cabinet measures 34 1/2 inches long and 16 1/4 inches wide. The length of just the top tier of the cabinet is 29 1/4 inches. The height (without legs) is 5 3/4 inches in the front and 8 1/2 inches in the rear. Legs measure 29 3/4 inches long. The thin metal instruction card holder measures 8 5/8 inches by 2 3/8 inches. The locking cash drawer is actually part of the cabinet bottom, built into the mid-section and extending from one side of the cabinet to the other, just below the coin slide. The drawer has a lock on one end and two "notches" in the wood on the other end which ma tch up with a "male" connection inside the cabinet.