VP8 Flipperless Recreation Whiffle Board (Automatic Industries, 1931) VP8 v1.0 2020-01-28

[tiltjlp]

Patrick & tiltjlp offer for your entertainment, what is said to be the grandfather of all coin-op pinball. The IPDB recognizes Whiffle as the first true pinball game, an honor which is often given to Baffle Ball. Automatic Industries offered Whiffle, which was actually named Whiffle Board at one point, a few weeks before Baffle Ball debuted. Since Whiffle was a flop, and Baffle Ball was a huge success, false information was accepted as factual for many years.

In converting a common bagatelle to an automatic coin-operated device, Earl Froom solved a number of issues, including how to separate the player from the playfield (glass), how to recirculate the balls after play (ball elevator), and how to collect money (coin mechanism). These three elements may be the key to the pingame fad that followed the introduction of Whiffle in 1931, and remain -- in one form or another -- in all pinball machines to this day.

You can download this playable bit of history by following this link:

VP8 - Flipperless - Recreation - Whiffle Board (Automatic Industries, 1931) VP8

Whiffle Board (Automatic Industries, 1931) v1.0 IPD No. 3552 The IPDB recognizes Whiffle as the first true pinball game, an honor which is often given to Baffle Ball. Automatic Industries offered Whiffle, which was actually named Whiffle Board...

pinballnirvana.com

Also, an expanded article by the inventor's daughter and granddaughter here:

The "Very First" Whiffle Board (Automatic Industries, 1931) by Lois Paulin Hollerman

The True History of the Whiffle Board (by Paulin's daughter Lois Paulin Hollerman, with granddaughter Karen Kettering) Arthur L. Paulin, a carpenter by trade, was cleaning out his old barn, Christmas-time 1930, when he came across a curious old...

pinballnirvana.com

John

 

[Shockman]

I use to think it was called Plinko. That must have been because not only the Price Is Right game, but simular games on old computers. I made a game called Plinko in AMOS basic on the Amiga.
http://gscentral.net/plinko.htm

 

[Matthew]

Thanks John :)

 

[tiltjlp]

I use to think it was called Plinko. That must have been because not only the Price Is Right game, but simular games on old computers. I made a game called Plinko in AMOS basic on the Amiga.
http://gscentral.net/plinko.htm

There is a bagatelle here called Plinko, which I think is loosely based on the Price Is Right Game. There's also a Cliffhanger game done from that show. And Matthwe, you're welcome.

John

 

[tiltjlp]

I use to think it was called Plinko. That must have been because not only the Price Is Right game, but simular games on old computers. I made a game called Plinko in AMOS basic on the Amiga.
http://gscentral.net/plinko.htm

There is a bagatelle here called Plinko, which I think is loosely based on the Price Is Right Game. There's also a Cliffhanger game done from that show. And Matthew, you're welcome.

John