Pass-Time

Pass-Time, manufactured by the Pass-Time Table Company of Detroit, Michigan in May 1932, is an early example of a mechanical pinball-style machine from the pre-electromechanical era of the game. Its pure mechanical design (PM) makes it an intriguing relic from the early days of pinball, showcasing the evolution of gameplay mechanics and technology.

The gameplay experience on Pass-Time is relatively straightforward yet distinctively different from its modern counterparts. Players can release up to 10 balls for a mere five cents, navigating them through a field with 15 trap holes and one free play hole. The use of a cue stick to shoot the ball adds an element of physicality, while a bead counter on the cabinet's front allows players to track their score in multiples of 500 points. Perhaps most notable is the hinged playfield glass, which raises for service access – a practical feature that highlights the machine's mechanical simplicity.

A plaque on the cabinet indicates this particular game was sold by the Kelley Automatic Music Company of Albany, New York, a distributor known for orchestropes, phonographs, and radios. Unfortunately, little specific information about Pass-Time's design, art, or theme has surfaced through research, but its simple yet functional design speaks to the resourcefulness of its creators during a time when the game was still finding its footing.