My early collecting days included picking up pre-flipper games from the 1930's. (I collected what I could find!) I recently ran across my old photo album of games (with real printed photographs - this was before digital cameras and the WWW), and have finally scanned them. I'll share a few of the pre-flipper examples that I had.

This one is called 'Baby Leland' and dates to 1933. Interestingly, it was sold by Chicago Coin, but made by Stoner (Stoner apparently had the castings).

I was fortunate to have corresponded with the late Dick Bueschel regarding this game, and always enjoyed the info he shared. (RIP, Dick.) If you like the early pinball games, I highly recommend Dick's books.

I bought this game at an art auction that was held in a shopping mall. About the strangest auction I've ever been too. Yes, inside a shopping mall. It was an art gallery sort of place, and the auction was for paintings and sculpture and such. And they had this one little old pinball game for some reason (and it was listed in the ad - in a newspaper!). I think I got it for $139. I later traded it for my first Gottlieb Atlantis.

BabyLeland.jpg
BabyLeland01.jpg
BabyLeland02.jpg
BabyLeland03.jpg
BabyLeland04.jpg
BabyLeland05.jpg

It's probably not so evident from the pictures, but basically the ball does two loop-the-loops; it comes around the top arch and runs into the top horseshoe, loops there and out and then is sent into the bottom horseshoe, loops there and is sent out and is then sent into the top of the lower playfield area.