Ace Is High

Ace Is High is one of the earliest pinball machines ever produced. Manufactured by Hercules Novelty Company of Chicago in June 1931, it dates from the very beginning of the coin-operated pinball boom. As a Pure Mechanical (PM) counter game, Ace Is High predates the electromechanical era that would follow, relying solely on mechanical mechanisms to operate.

The gameplay of Ace Is High is as simple as its era suggests. Players could choose to play 5 balls for just one cent or opt for a longer session with 10 balls for five cents - a common pricing arrangement on counter games of the day. The machine was produced in both a Standard version and a 'Souvenir Coin' version that included a token dispenser.

The cards and gambling theme of Ace Is High reflects popular interests of the 1930s, motifs that would recur in pinball for decades to come. Little is known about the designer behind this machine, but its age and historical position make it a treasured find for collectors and enthusiasts of early pinball machines.