Diamond Jack

The Diamond Jack, a 1967 electro-mechanical game from D. Gottlieb & Company, embodies the spirit of classic 1960s pinball design. Designed by Ed Krynski with artwork by Art Stenholm, this single-player add-a-ball machine carries a cards-and-gambling theme, a perennial favorite subject of the era. Only 650 units were confirmed produced, making it one of Gottlieb's smaller runs of the period.

The playfield offers two flippers, three pop bumpers, two slingshots, five roto-targets, and five standup targets, with a maximum displayed score of 9,999 points. The backbox adds a mechanical animation touch in which playing cards drop down - a classic piece of Gottlieb showmanship from the decade.

Diamond Jack is closely related to two sibling games: Gottlieb's 1967 'King of Diamonds' is the replay version of the same design, and 'Solitaire', also 1967, was the add-a-ball version built for export to Italy. Together they illustrate how Gottlieb tailored a single design to different markets and local regulations, and Diamond Jack's modest production run makes it an appealing find for collectors of 1960s wedgeheads.