Free Races

Free Races, manufactured by J. H. Keeney and Company of Chicago in December 1937, is a flipperless electro-mechanical game from pinball's pre-flipper era. Keeney was a prolific Chicago coin-op maker of the period, and Free Races reflects the styles and mechanisms typical of late-1930s pin games.

Gameplay on Free Races offers five balls per play. The machine features three spring bumpers and a remarkable nineteen trap holes, so play revolves around nudging and aiming shots into the scoring holes scattered across the playfield rather than flipper skill — flippers would not arrive in pinball until 1947. The auto racing theme is an early example of the sports themes that would remain popular in pinball for decades to come.

Details about the game's designer and artwork are not recorded, and little is known about this machine beyond its technical specifications, making it an intriguing find for enthusiasts interested in the pre-war chapter of pinball history.