Double Feature

The Double Feature, produced by Stoner Manufacturing Company of Aurora, Illinois in March 1940, is an interesting artifact from the electro-mechanical era that preceded the flipper. Stoner was one of many Illinois manufacturers competing in the booming prewar coin-op market, and this single-player game shows the kind of clever monetization ideas the industry was experimenting with at the time.

A standout feature of the Double Feature is its namesake gameplay mechanic: inserting a second nickel before starting play allows the player to earn "Double Feature" awards for that game. This subtle design choice not only adds an element of strategy but also reflects the economic realities of the time, when five or ten cents was a meaningful sum for many Americans. The machine's total replays are projected onto the backglass, an elegant display touch for 1940.

Very little else is known about this machine beyond its technical specifications, and neither a designer nor a theme is documented, making it something of an enigma in pinball history. Nevertheless, its dual-price 'Double Feature' mechanic makes it a fascinating artifact for enthusiasts and historians alike.