De Luxe Preakness

The De Luxe Preakness, manufactured by Bally in 1937, is an early electro-mechanical (EM) payout machine from a period when pinball was still in its infancy — flippers and bumpers had not yet been introduced to the playing field. The De Luxe Preakness relies on electromagnets and relay-based circuitry to guide the ball through its course, and per Bally's own promotional material, the deluxe version featured a new playfield and cabinet design, an all-A.C. circuit, and new motor-driven silent spinners compared to the original 1936 Preakness.

In terms of gameplay, the machine's layout is relatively simple by modern standards. Players aim to score points by guiding the ball through various obstacles and into scoring targets, in the one-ball payout format typical of the period. The De Luxe Preakness is also notable for its horse-racing theme, following Bally's 1936 'Preakness' machine the year before.

Bally's records show that a nearly identical Model 205 version was issued just eight days before this Model 206 release, and it remains unclear whether the two ever differed meaningfully, or whether Model 205 units were ever shipped from the factory. Little information is available about the designer or the machine's specific artwork, but for pinball enthusiasts and historians, the De Luxe Preakness offers a fascinating glimpse into the early days of the game's evolution.