Penny Play

The Penny Play, manufactured by Froom Laboratories, Inc. in January 1936 and designed by Earl Froom, is a penny counter game with payout that was new on display at the 1936 Coin Machine Exposition in Chicago. Playable for a single cent, it speaks to the accessibility and affordability of coin-op entertainment of the era.

As a tabletop/counter payout machine, gameplay on the Penny Play centers on releasing balls into play to score, with the machine paying out based on results. No electromechanical components are documented for this game; it appears to have relied on simple mechanical operation. This simplicity is consistent with many payout devices of the mid-1930s.

The Penny Play's design is remarkably understated for its era, with clean lines and minimal decoration suggesting a focus on functionality over visual flair. Little information is available about its theme or artistic direction, but its rarity and age make it a notable find for pinball and coin-op historians.