Five and Ten

The Five and Ten pinball machine, manufactured by Stoner Manufacturing Company of Aurora, Illinois in September 1935, is an early electromechanical pinball machine from the game's formative decade. Machines of this age offer a window into the era before flippers, when pinball was a game of aiming and chance.

Gameplay-wise, Five and Ten is notable for offering 10 balls for just 5 cents, as advertised. The machine was advertised as 41 inches long by 21 inches wide, a compact footprint that belies the mechanisms inside. With 22 trap holes scattered across the playfield, players must carefully aim their shots toward scoring opportunities. A charming quirk of the game is its backglass, which carries the words "Two Thre Five Ten" - the number three is misspelled as "Thre" on both the backglass and playfield.

While little is known about the designer or any theme associated with Five and Ten, its historical interest lies in its status as an early example of pinball's evolution. As a relic from the 1930s, it offers a unique glimpse into the game's formative years and the development of electromechanical pinball machines.