Aquacade

The Aquacade, manufactured by United Manufacturing Company of Chicago in May 1949, is an electro-mechanical (EM) pinball machine from the years just after the flipper transformed the game. United, which operated until 1962, was one of the many Chicago manufacturers competing in the busy post-war pinball market.

The Aquacade carries the standard equipment of its day: two flippers that let players control the movement of the ball, three pop bumpers, and six kick-out holes that add plenty of player interaction and scoring variety to the playfield.

Its theme is listed as "Aquatic Fun - Happiness," evoking the carefree water-show entertainment popular in mid-century America. No designer is credited for this machine, leaving us to appreciate it as an artifact of the late-1940s pinball scene. For pinball enthusiasts and collectors, the Aquacade offers a glimpse into the early years of flipper-era EM design.