Four Roses

The Four Roses pinball machine, manufactured by Genco Manufacturing Company in November 1940, is a representative of the flipperless electro-mechanical games produced in pinball's prewar years. Genco, a Chicago manufacturer active from 1931 to 1958, was one of the industry's long-running names, and Four Roses reflects the state of the game just before wartime production halts reshaped the business.

Gameplay on the Four Roses centers on its twenty scoring bumpers. With no flippers to redirect the ball, players must rely on a skillful plunger launch and then watch the ball cascade through the bumper field to accumulate points, a simple but satisfying formula typical of the era.

Little is known about the game's designer or theme, and no production figures are recorded. Even so, the Four Roses offers a glimpse into the formative years of the game, making it an interesting find for those drawn to vintage prewar pinball.