1939 Baseball (Free Game Model)
About This Machine
The 1939 Baseball (Free Game Model) by Western Products, Incorporated is an early example of a bat-and-ball themed electro-mechanical pinball game from the golden age of arcade novelties. As the free-game counterpart to the company's payout version, this model awarded extra plays via a "Free Game register" display rather than paying out coins directly, a design likely chosen to sidestep gambling regulations of the era.
The game's design combines a projection replay unit under the lower right playfield with striking visual touches: a removable, silkscreened glass baseball diamond at center playfield lights up to show men running the bases, and a comical umpire figure flashes "Yer Out" when the game tilts or ends (three outs also ends the game). Eighteen gobble holes and twenty non-electrical, non-scoring spring posts ring the perimeter of the playfield, while a "new multi-colored illuminated flashing backboard" replaced the flat marquee used on earlier models.
The game licensed several early game-apparatus patents, including those originally held by James W. Reed and by Bon MacDougall (assigned to Fred C. McClellan of the bankrupt Pacific Amusement Manufacturing Company), reflecting the tangled patent landscape of early coin-op design. Western Products produced this baseball game under several names and variants until the company folded in 1941, making surviving examples an interesting piece of pre-war pinball history.
Images (30)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Sports - Baseball
- Notable Features:
- Gobble holes (18). The playfield has twenty non-electrical, non-scoring spring posts around its perimeter. The baseball diamond at center playfield is removable glass and is silkscreened to illuminate men running the bases. When the game is tilted or when game is over, on this glass a comical umpire figure just to the right of the pitching mound lights up with the words, "Yer Out". Projection replay unit under lower right playfield. 3 outs ends game. A thin backbox advertised as the "new multi-colored illuminated flashing backboard" replaced the flat board marquee of earlier models. Replay wheel maximum: 99 Tilt penalty: game over. There is only a pendulum tilt in this game, no slam switches. Ball composition: wood, 1.1 inches in diameter, weighing 0.22 ounces (6 grams). From the playfield: Licensed by United Pat Corp.: Patent 2,073,177 [GAME APPARATUS] Filed February 25, 1935. Granted on March 9, 1937 to James W. Reed, assignor to Pacific Amusement Manufacturing Company. Patent 1,983,811 [GAME APPARATUS] Filed June 28, 1934. Granted on December 11, 1934 to Bon MacDougall, assignor to Fred C. McClellan. Patent 1,973,820 [COIN CONTROLLED GAME APPARATUS] Filed June 28, 1934. Granted on September 18, 1934 to Bon MacDougall, assignor to Fred C. McClellan. Fred C. McClellan was the president of Pacific Amusement Manufacturing Company whose patents were acquired by Jimmy Johnson after their bankruptcy. Licensed by J. E. Johnson: Patent 1,985,736 [GAME APPARATUS] Filed October 8, 1934. Granted on December 25, 1934 to William H. Bellah. Pat. RE 20698