Fun-Fair

The Genco Manufacturing Company's 1958 Fun-Fair pinball machine is a notable example of late-1950s electro-mechanical (EM) design. Produced on March 10, 1958, it was one of the very last games Genco made — according to a production list provided by Steve Kordek, it was the third-from-last Genco game, followed only by the arcade machine "Space Age" and the final game, 1958's 'Flying Aces.' That places Fun-Fair at a poignant moment in the story of one of pinball's longest-running early manufacturers.

Designed by H. Berninger, Fun-Fair packs a full arsenal for its era: two flippers, three pop bumpers, four passive bumpers, two slingshots, two kick-out holes, and a gobble hole, all working together in a carnival shooting-gallery layout. Its most delightful touch is the backbox light animation, in which ducks and rabbits light up as they are scored on the playfield — a charming bit of showmanship that ties the theme together.

There is even a coda to the story: reportedly, production of this game continued after Genco's assets were purchased by Chicago Dynamic Industries, though supporting documentation has not surfaced. For collectors interested in the twilight of the Genco name, Fun-Fair is a genuinely interesting piece of pinball history.