"8 Ball"

"8 Ball", manufactured by Williams in February 1952, is an interesting early entry in the long line of billiards-themed electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machines. Designed by pinball pioneer Harry Williams with artwork by George Molentin, this single-player game reflects the design sensibilities of the early flipper era.

Players encounter a distinctive combination of features. The game boasts two reversed flippers, a configuration that changes the feel of ball control compared to the standard arrangement. Two pop bumpers and four passive bumpers populate the playfield, while two kick-out holes provide additional scoring opportunities. A notable mechanical touch is the tilt system: the tilt penalty is loss of the ball in play, and the tilt is reset by the ball passing through a roll-under wire at the bottom of the playfield below the flippers.

As an early-1950s Williams game pairing Harry Williams' design with George Molentin's artwork, "8 Ball" provides a window into the formative years of flipper pinball, making it an appealing piece for collectors of the era.