Gateway

The Gateway pinball machine, produced by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) in May 1935, is a notable example of early electro-mechanical pinball design. Gateway is identified as a converted game, meaning it was built from the parts and cabinet of an earlier, unidentified machine, though its exact source game remains unknown. It was also advertised in 1936 trade press as a ticket-payout game, and at least one known example carried a handwritten notice instructing players what to do if the game failed to issue a ticket.

Gateway features 20 trap holes and a kicker at the bottom of the playfield, providing a way for players to launch balls into different scoring areas. The metal cover over the kicker displays the name "Gateway" with ESCO's manufacturer label below it.

Unfortunately, very little is known about Gateway's designer or the specific game it was converted from. Its status as a converted, ticket-issuing machine adds an intriguing wrinkle to its history, offering a glimpse into the varied and sometimes gambling-adjacent business models of early electro-mechanical pinball manufacturers.