Original Baffle Ball ‘pure mechanical’ pinball machine released by D. Gottlieb & Company circa November 1931. The tabletop machine, 16˝ x 27˝ x 9˝, is comprised of its original wooden cabinet with a glass top, through which the player can observe the attractive playfield layout with a baseball-inspired design that features numerous bumper pins, 11 bottom point gates (from 5 to 50 possible points), four major scoring pockets of 150, 250, 350, and 500 points, and an upper ‘Baffle Point’ pocket, which, per the scoring rules below, “doubles the score of the entire table providing you do not knock it off again.” The lower right notes “10 Balls for 1¢” and the game’s instructions. The rear cabinet door retains its original key. In fine condition, with some light wear to cabinet. An attractive Depression-era machine designed by pinball pioneer David Gottlieb.
Per the Internet Pinball Database: ‘According to the book Pinball 1, Baffle Ball was produced by Gottlieb in Chicago and also by Keeney and Sons in a separate Chicago facility but under Gottlieb’s direction. While both companies began production of this game in November 1931, Keeney was the first to have this game on the production line and was the first to advertise them. Gottlieb took care of all of the distribution details. Baffle Ball was ‘the first game to top the 50,000 mark in production and deliveries,’ but we do not know the exact quantity produced or how many of that quantity were made by each company. Neither Gottlieb nor Keeney put their company name on the games and the differences between the two productions (if any) are minimal, making it nearly impossible to tell them apart.’
