Flash

"Flash" is an electro-mechanical pinball machine from June 1939, produced by the Exhibit Supply Company (ESCO) of Chicago. This flipperless, single-player game comes from pinball's pre-war heyday, when Chicago manufacturers were turning out new titles at a rapid pace and themes were becoming an important selling point.

The game carries a nautical theme of speedboat racing on the water. Its playfield boasts 17 spring bumpers and two captive ball kickers, giving players plenty of scoring action, and each game offers five balls per play. The machine was available in both Free Play and Regular (Novelty) versions, a common operator choice of the era.

For pinball enthusiasts and collectors, "Flash" represents a glimpse into the late 1930s - an era marked by innovation and experimentation, just before wartime production halts paused the industry and the post-war flipper transformed the game.