St. Moritz Alps

St. Moritz Alps, manufactured by Chicago Coin Machine Manufacturing Company and released on November 18, 1938, is a rare single-player electro-mechanical game from pinball's pre-flipper era. Carrying model number 56, it had a confirmed production run of just 225 units, making surviving examples genuinely scarce.

The game is listed as a novelty play machine, meaning it was built for amusement rather than payouts — a meaningful distinction in the late 1930s, when many jurisdictions were cracking down on gambling-style pin games. Its name evokes the famous Swiss alpine resort of St. Moritz, suggesting a winter sports or alpine vacation theme, though detailed documentation of its playfield and artwork has not survived in the historical record.

With its tiny production run and pre-war origins, St. Moritz Alps stands as an enigmatic footnote in Chicago Coin's long history, offering collectors and historians a glimpse into the industry's rapid evolution during its formative years.