Cyclone

The Cyclone, designed by Jack Firestone and manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in February 1935, is one of the earliest examples of an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine. The Encyclopedia of Pinball Vol. 2 refers to it as Gottlieb's first EM game, with flashing lights on the playfield - though Gottlieb had made games in 1934 having batteries and bells. Either way, it sits right at the transition from purely mechanical to electrified pin games.

The Cyclone offered 10 balls per play, a notable value proposition at the time. The machine also features ten captive balls, located in two separate playfields not accessible by the balls the player shoots. This clever design element added an extra layer of visual interest and complexity to the game.

Perhaps its most genuinely historic feature: the Cyclone is the first game to have an electric ball lift, patented by Gottlieb, offered as an optional feature at extra cost. As a machine bridging the mechanical and electromechanical eras, the Cyclone represents a pivotal moment in pinball's evolution, paving the way for the more sophisticated, electrified experiences that would follow.