l'arlequin

This mysterious coin-operated pin table is a rare and puzzling entry in pinball history. Its manufacturer is unknown, and even its production year is undocumented, though the French-language text on its apron points to a European, likely French, origin. Classified as a Pure Mechanical (PM) tabletop/counter game, it predates the electro-mechanical and electronic eras of pinball entirely.

For 1 franc per play, the game offers 13 trap holes and 2 free-play holes, each free-play hole marked "A REJOUER" ("to replay"), while the outhole trough is marked "PERDU" ("lost"). The upper torso of a colorful harlequin figure decorates the center of the playfield, and a paper card on the lower-left apron warns players (translated): "Attention, for proper operation pull firmly the lever till the end of stroke."

The machine's compact wood cabinet measures 78.5 cm long, 42 cm wide, and 22-27 cm high, making it a modest, tabletop-sized curiosity. With no confirmed manufacturer, date, or theme, and no flippers or other advanced mechanisms recorded, this game remains a genuine mystery -- a true treasure hunt for pinball historians trying to trace its origins.