Duplex

The Duplex, produced by Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago in December 1940, is an early entry in the electro-mechanical era of pinball machines. Games of this period showcase the evolution from purely mechanical devices towards the more complex electromechanical systems that would define pinball for decades, and the Duplex offers a glimpse into that development process.

The machine's documented feature set consists of twelve passive bumpers. Unlike the powered pop bumpers that would later become standard, passive bumpers have no active kicking mechanism - they deflect the ball and register scores when struck. This simple arrangement was characteristic of pre-flipper pinball design, which relied on plunger skill, nudging, and the luck of the ball's path through the bumper field.

Not much is known about the Duplex beyond its production details, including who designed it or what theme it was intended to convey. Given its age and the limited information available, collectors and enthusiasts of early pinball history will nonetheless find the Duplex an intriguing piece for its place in the electro-mechanical era of the early 1940s.