Pinball & Counter Top Game Pay Off Sheet

High Score Record Card ~ 1950’s

Pin Ball Location Gambling


Here is a relic from the 1950’s that belongs framed on the wall next to a fine 1950’s wood rail pin game. I found these in the back of an old file cabinet from a Chicago Pinball operator. I have had them for years and didn’t know it. I only found a few dozen. Pin ball machines and counter top games were basically a gambling machine after WWII. When the new Federal Gambling machine laws took effect in 1951, all slot machine production stopped, and the Amusement Games like pinball and shooting galleries, and other counter top games, took their pay-offs under the counter. That’s how the free games feature started. The operator would buy back the games you won for cash or trade. To this day, some locations laws still won’t allow free game features on pinball machines.

Some of the pay offs were large to entice players. One of the most common was a weekly payoff to the highest score on a particular machine for the week or the highest game out of 100 games that were over “so many points”. To track the scores, some locations placed one of these cards near the machine to keep a record of who got the highest point scores that week. The players all used nick names like Shorty or Slim, etc. The location owner would witness and initial the scores to keep everyone honest. The payoff came from the operator of the pinball or arcade machines in that region. Typical pay offs were from $5 to $50. The top corner of the card has a stamped serial number. The operator who made the pay off would cut off that corner of the completed card, have the player initial it, and take back to the Boss for reimbursement.

Thin cardboard. The card has no folds, no tears, no bruises. Minor edge fading, and some minor dirt smudges, otherwise Perfect Condition. This card is a real piece of Pinball and counter top game History. It is 11 inches wide and 12 inches high. We wrap the heck out of it so it won’t get bent. Don’t miss the opportunity to have one of these cards for your collection whether you have 1 machine or 1 dozen.

 
Esnarf Item . #5012 Price . . $17.85

 

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