Machine Description

Circus Wagon, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in the late 1950s, represents a classic example of the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines when circus and carnival themes were particularly popular among manufacturers and players alike. The machine captured the vibrant atmosphere of traveling circuses that were still a significant part of American entertainment culture during this period.

The machine's playfield design likely featured colorful circus imagery including wagons, performers, and animals, which was typical of the era's artistic style. As an electro-mechanical pinball machine, it operated using relay switches, stepper units, and scoring motors, creating the distinctive mechanical sounds that characterized pinball games of this period. The gameplay would have included standard features of the era such as pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and likely featured the newly-innovative 'trap door' mechanisms that Gottlieb was known for implementing in their 1950s machines.

While specific production numbers are not readily available, Circus Wagon would have been manufactured during a period when Gottlieb was the dominant force in pinball manufacturing, known for their high-quality machines and innovative mechanical features. The theme and timing of this machine coincided with the broader American fascination with circus entertainment, making it a notable piece of both pinball and American popular culture history.