Defense

Defense, manufactured by Baker Novelty and Manufacturing Company in November 1940, is an electro-mechanical, flipperless pinball machine that reflects the patriotic fervor of its time. Released as the United States was ramping up military preparedness on the eve of its entry into World War II, its military theme spans the Army, Navy, Marines, and the Army Air Corps (which would become the US Air Force in 1947), providing a window into how the amusement industry echoed the national mood.

Defense features a playfield populated with 18 passive bumpers, the simple scoring posts typical of flipperless games of this era. With no flippers to redirect the ball, play centered on the skillful launch of each ball and the bounces it took through the bumper field, giving the game the chance-driven character common to pre-flipper pinball.

The military theme emphasizes patriotic symbolism rather than narrative storytelling. While little else is documented about Defense beyond its basic specifications, its early production date and single short-lived manufacturer (Baker Novelty operated only from 1939 to 1941) make it an interesting artifact for enthusiasts seeking historical context on pinball's pre-war, flipperless phase.