Fleet
About This Machine
Fleet, manufactured by Bally in August 1940, is a flipperless electro-mechanical game with a military naval theme, released as the world was entering wartime and nautical subjects were very much in the public eye.
Gameplay offered 5 balls for 5 cents, with twelve spring bumpers, three rotating targets, and two captive ball kickers to navigate. The rotating target assembly is particularly noteworthy: it slowly turns clockwise throughout gameplay, with a target mounted at the end of each of its three cannons. Each time any of the four blue "build-up bumpers" surrounding this assembly is hit, a number from 1 through 10 on the lower backglass increments, and the lit number represents the number of replays awarded by hitting one of the rotating targets - reportedly an easy thing to achieve. Operators could configure the game for either add-a-ball or free play (replay) operation.
A couple of quirks add to Fleet's character. The manufacturer's flyer misleadingly suggests the rotating assembly is a captive ball feature, when in fact the cannons do not receive balls - a ball hitting the moving targets merely bounces off. And the game has no lock on its back door; instead, a latch must be operated from inside the game by first pulling out the playfield and reaching through. Fleet remains an interesting piece of pinball history from the pre-flipper era.
Images (60)
Technical Details
- Theme:
- Military - Nautical - Naval - Navy - Warfare
- Model Number:
- 390
- Notable Features:
- 5 balls for 5 cents. Spring bumpers (12), Rotating targets (3), Captive ball kickers (2). Operator option for either add-a-ball or free play (replay) operation. The round rotating targets assembly slowly turns clockwise throughout game play. The manufacturer flyer misleads to indicate this assembly is a captive ball feature, as the three cannons mounted on it do not receive balls. Instead, a target is mounted at the end of each cannon, and a ball hitting these moving targets merely bounces off. Each time any of the four blue "build-up bumpers " that surround this assembly are hit, the numbers 1 through 10 on the lower backglass will increment, and this lit number represents the number of replays awarded by hitting one of the rotating targets, reportedly an easy thing to achieve. There is no lock on the back door. Instead, a latch must be operated from inside the game by first pulling out the playfield then reaching though the game.