Antique Nickel 5¢ Bally Mfg Co Blue Ribbon Pinball Machine Early 1930s
A mechanical arcade pinball game, manufactured by Bally Mfg Co. in the early 1930's, crafted during the pre-flipper era. For five cents the player is given 10 balls with points accumulating when landing in a score pocket. The playfield is clean, in working condition, with key.
Blue Ribbon is the non payout version of Bally's incredibly popular Rocket. They share the same construction, cabinet and playfield and differ only in that there is no payout mechanism on Blue Ribbon. Keep in mind early pinball games were seen as (and were!) gambling devices. Many states, counties, boroughs and cities were dead set against gambling machines. Blue Ribbon was there to keep operators in business in those areas.
Blue Ribbon is an auto race theme. The art was modeled on racing cars like the 1933 Riley.
1933 was also the art deco era. Blue Ribbon has a definite art deco style as seen in the ball lifter/shooter, coin slide and cabinet decoration. Even the legs have that symetrical deco taper.
Please examine all photographs, they are part of the description. Questions welcome. This is not a standard shippable item and will require local pickup or 3rd party shipping arrangements to be made by the buyer. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada.