Shawnee

The Shawnee, manufactured by J. H. Keeney and Company Incorporated in December 1958, is not a pinball machine at all -- it's an 'electronic upright,' sometimes called a 'flasher type' slot machine. Rather than paying out cash, it increments a credit meter, allowing continued play without inserting additional coins. Cash Box magazine reported in late December 1958 that production was underway.

A notable feature is its flexible coin acceptance: operators could configure the machine for single-coin operation or to accept nickels, dimes, and quarters, reflecting the varied needs of different locations and jurisdictions. Its American West theme was rendered through the artwork typical of the period, though specific design details are not well documented.

Little is known about the machine's designer or exact production numbers. Keeney would later revisit the theme with 1960's 'Sweet Shawnee,' an upgraded successor. As an early example of Keeney's electronic upright amusements, the Shawnee offers insight into the variety of coin-operated devices that existed alongside true pinball machines in the late 1950s.