Floating Power

The Floating Power pinball machine, manufactured by Genco in December 1948, is an interesting example of early flipper-era electro-mechanical (EM) design. Genco was one of the long-running Chicago manufacturers of the period, and Floating Power - with a confirmed production run of 1,695 units built over just a few weeks around the turn of 1949 - offers a glimpse into the industry's rapid output in the years immediately after flippers were introduced.

Key gameplay features on the Floating Power include two flippers, two pop bumpers, and three kick-out holes. Players navigate the ball around the playfield with the flippers, while the kick-out holes catch the ball and eject it back into play for points and the pop bumpers add an extra layer of action and scoring opportunity.

The theme of recreation - specifically swimming - is depicted through evocative artwork by Roy Parker, the prolific artist better known for his Gottlieb work of the era. While no designer is credited for this game, its swimming theme and compact feature set make it a pleasant artifact of late-1940s pinball.