Dew-Wa-Ditty

The Dew-Wa-Ditty, released by Williams Manufacturing Company on June 24, 1948, comes from the very first years of flipper pinball - flippers had been introduced to the industry only months earlier, in late 1947. It was designed by Harry Williams, the company's founder and one of the most influential figures in pinball history, with artwork by George Molentin.

The game carries four flippers, and they have a distinctive quirk: all four operate simultaneously because they are driven by a single solenoid, a reminder of how quickly and experimentally manufacturers were adapting to the new flipper concept. Players navigate nine passive bumpers and five kick-out holes, and the game offered five balls for five cents - a common price point of the day.

The Dew-Wa-Ditty's cheerful theme of happiness, music, and singing reflects the optimistic spirit of post-war America. As an early flipper-era design from Harry Williams himself, it remains an intriguing piece of pinball history for enthusiasts of the 1940s game.