Flag-Ship

The Flag-Ship, designed by Wayne Neyens with artwork by Roy Parker, was released by D. Gottlieb & Company in January 1957. This 2-player electro-mechanical game (model 124) carries a nautical sailing theme, and its backglass proudly bears Gottlieb's famous slogan: "Amusement Pinballs, as American as Baseball and Hot Dogs!" A confirmed 1,250 units were produced.

Gameplay offers 3, 4, or 5 ball play at the operator's option, with a well-stocked playfield for its era: two flippers, four pop bumpers, two passive bumpers, two slingshots, six standup targets, and three gobble holes. A double match feature awards 2 or 10 replays as an operator option, and the maximum displayed score is 1,999 points per player.

Roy Parker's colorful nautical artwork, with its sailing vessels and maritime imagery, transports players to the golden age of Gottlieb's woodrail-era games. An Extended Play prototype version of the game was also made, and the Flag-Ship remains an appealing example of the Neyens/Parker partnership that defined Gottlieb's output in the 1950s.