Duette

The Duette, manufactured by D. Gottlieb & Company in March 1955, holds a genuine place in pinball history: it was Gottlieb's first two-player pinball machine. Designed by Wayne Neyens, one of Gottlieb's most prolific and celebrated designers, with backglass and playfield art by Roy Parker, the Duette was produced in a confirmed run of 326 units. It was also released in a variant form as Gottlieb's 1955 'Duette Deluxe', which featured a larger backglass and playfield and legs attached to the sides of the cabinet.

Gameplay on the Duette is marked by its distinctive reversed flippers, which challenge players to adjust their aim and timing. The presence of three pop bumpers and four passive bumpers creates an engaging dynamic, while two standup targets add an element of precision and strategy. A standout feature is the gobble hole - a mechanism that consumes the ball while awarding points, adding an extra layer of risk and reward to gameplay. With its maximum displayed score of 999 points per player and bell sounds, the Duette is a classic example of mid-1950s electro-mechanical design.

As the game that introduced two-player competition to Gottlieb's lineup, the Duette remains an attractive specimen for collectors seeking a mechanically intricate and historically significant piece of pinball history.