Electric Baffle Ball

The Electric Baffle Ball, produced by D. Gottlieb & Company in October 1935, is an early example of an electro-mechanical machine from the company that launched the pinball craze with the original Baffle Ball in 1931. It holds a notable place in pinball history, showing Gottlieb's move toward electrically operated features in the mid-1930s.

Electric Baffle Ball is a one-ball payout machine, a gambling-style game in which a single ball's outcome determined an automatic payout to the player. Gottlieb offered a mint vendor and a check separator as optional extras at additional cost, accessories typical of payout games of the period. Gottlieb's 1936 'Long Shot' is a related machine.

While no specific theme or art style has been documented for the Electric Baffle Ball, its utilitarian design reflects the functional aesthetic often seen in early pinball machines. Little is known about the machine's designer or production run, but as an early example of electro-mechanical technology from Gottlieb, it remains an interesting artifact in the evolution of the game.