Yankee Aggot-Tell!

The Yankee Aggot-Tell! (1932) is a rare and significant artifact in the history of pinball. As one of the earliest pure mechanical pinball machines manufactured by The Yankee Amusement Co. in New Haven, Connecticut, it represents a pivotal moment in the evolution of the game. In an era well before electromechanical and electronic pinballs — and 15 years before the flipper itself was invented — the Aggot-Tell! relied entirely on the tilt of the playfield and the physics of ball drops into trap holes to create its gameplay experience.

The machine's notable features include a Veeder counter, which was a common device used in early pinball machines to keep track of player scores, as well as 20 trap holes that added an element of unpredictability to gameplay. Players could play with 10 balls for just five cents, making the Aggot-Tell! an attractive and accessible machine in its day. Interestingly, the game appears to be essentially identical to Automatic Industries' 1931 'Whiffle Board' — likely built by a neighboring company and sold under a different paper apron — with the ten agate marbles (nine white, one red counting double) probably shared between both games.

Regrettably, little is known about the designer or theme behind the Yankee Aggot-Tell!, leaving us to appreciate this piece of history based on its technical and historical significance rather than any explicit narrative or artistic merits. Nevertheless, for those fascinated by the origins of pinball, the Aggot-Tell! offers a glimpse into the formative years of the game.