That's very cool. I've been to the Museum of Science and Industry - around two years ago when I was visiting friends there. It's a great museum - definitely recommended.

Yeah, the table top bagatelles go back a long ways. I think several centuries in fact. Abraham Lincoln is shown in a political cartoon playing full-size bagatelle (on a pool/billiards table set up for it)

http://www.picturehistory.com/product/id/12162

Pacific Pinball Museum has several of these types of games, like ballyhoo. A ballyhoo is actually not too hard to come by and they can be had for around $100. So many were made that many still exist. Probably very few mint examples though.

But stuff earlier than that, like what you found, is definitely rare.

Did you get some pictures of it before you sent it off? Can you post them? I would like to feature them on my blog and give you a mention.