Darby

Darby, manufactured by the Reliance Cabinet Company of Chicago in June 1932, is an early example of a pure mechanical pinball machine, predating the electrically powered games that would come to dominate the industry. As a tabletop counter game from pinball's first boom years, Darby offers a glimpse into the earliest days of the hobby's development.

Darby's gameplay is simple but engaging: players received 7 balls for 1 cent or 10 balls for 5 cents, aiming 5/8-inch steel balls at the scoring holes, including a single free play hole. The machine's coin chute was magnetized to reject slugs, an early anti-cheating measure.

The cabinet, advertised in a walnut finish, measures 32 1/2 inches long, 17 1/2 inches wide, and 10 inches high without its optional stand (38 inches high with it), with a playfield of 31 by 15 inches - compact and space-efficient by design. A sample was advertised for $16.50, with the 20-pound wooden stand available for an additional $2.75. While little is known about its designer or original context, Darby remains a fascinating relic from pinball's early days.