Festival

Meet Festival, a rare and intriguing electro-mechanical pinball machine from the Spanish manufacturer Talleres del Llobregat S.A. [Automaticos]. While its exact release year is unknown, this machine's unique features and design elements make it a fascinating addition to any serious collector's or enthusiast's collection. As one of the few known examples of an EM pinball machine from Spain, Festival offers a glimpse into the global history of pinball, which often overlooked in favor of more well-known American and Italian manufacturers.

Festival's gameplay is notable for its innovative use of a center rotating disc to determine target values and advance progress. This mechanism, combined with three pop bumpers, two passive bumpers, and slingshots, creates a dynamic and challenging play experience that sets it apart from other EM machines of the time. The machine's theme, centered around music, dancing, and celebration, is also noteworthy for its lighthearted and joyous tone – a stark contrast to some of the more somber or fantastical themes found in pinball machines.

One of Festival's most distinctive features is its wedge-shaped headbox, which is wider than usual on EM machines. The machine's wood cabinet with Formica veneer and metal rails add to its unique aesthetic, while the round knob on the right side of the cabinet serves as a ball lift. Maximum point scores are capped at 1,999 points, adding an extra layer of strategy and challenge for players. Unfortunately, little is known about the machine's designer or production history, but Festival remains an exciting discovery for pinball enthusiasts and historians alike.