Criss Cross 'A' Lite

The Criss Cross pinball machine, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company in February 1935, is a significant machine for pinball historians. It is an early electro-mechanical (EM) game: Genco revised its entirely mechanical 1934 'Criss Cross' by moving the score totalizer from the playfield to a lighted totalizer in the backbox, powered through a transformer from line current. Harvey Heiss's design showcases the innovative spirit of early pinball makers as electricity began transforming the game.

Criss Cross offered four balls per play, or ten balls per play, and its playfield features ten trap holes that catch the ball, adding a layer of challenge and strategy. According to the Encyclopedia of Pinball Vol. 2, the first backglasses of this EM version showed only 'Criss Cross' above the lighted scoring; Genco later modified the glass to add "A-Lite," making it taller, though this second backglass never appeared in advertising or flyers.

There is limited information available about the Criss Cross's theme or artwork, but its design and mechanics make it a fascinating piece for collectors and historians. As an early EM machine, Criss Cross offers a glimpse into the pioneering era of pinball, when designers like Heiss pushed the boundaries of what was possible in game design.