Dynamite

Dynamite, produced by Williams Manufacturing Company on August 24, 1946, is an early entry from a company that would go on to become one of pinball's most storied names. As only the second model from the young Williams operation, this flipperless Western-themed game arrived in the immediate postwar boom, just before the 1947 invention of the flipper transformed the industry.

Key features of Dynamite include its 11 passive bumpers and four kick-out holes, providing a lively playfield for a flipperless game where plunger skill and nudging determined the ball's fate. The machine's two ball kickers propel the ball back into action, adding to the excitement. These elements are characteristic of the transitional games of the mid-1940s, made just before flippers redefined what pinball could be.

The Western theme fits squarely in the popular-culture-inspired artwork of classic pinball. One intriguing footnote from the factory: the manufacturer's original playfield drawing, dated February 26, 1946, shows the game's original name 'Progress' crossed out in favor of Dynamite. The game's vintage charm and place in early Williams history make it an attractive find for collectors of 1940s machines.