Dealer's Choice

The Dealer pinball machine, manufactured by Williams Electronics in December 1973, is a solid entry from the electro-mechanical (EM) era. Designed by Norm Clark with artwork by Christian Marche, this four-player game carries a cards/gambling theme rendered in Marche's distinctive 1970s style. It was a substantial commercial success, with a confirmed production run of 8,850 units, and it shares its playfield with Williams' 1973 'High Ace'; a one-player version was released as Williams' 1974 'Lucky Ace'.

The gameplay makes extensive use of classic EM features: four flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, ten rollover buttons, and eight standup targets. Players can take advantage of the end-of-ball bonus and strive toward the maximum displayed score of 99,990 points per player, with earned replays tracked on a replay wheel that maxes out at 37. The soundtrack is pure EM: three chimes and a knocker.

With its bold Christian Marche card-themed artwork and feature-rich playfield, Dealer is a quintessential representation of 1970s pinball aesthetics and an appealing addition to any collection of vintage Williams games.