Four Aces

Four Aces, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in the late 1950s, represents a classic example of the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines. During this period, card-themed pinball machines were particularly popular, capitalizing on America's fascination with poker and gambling themes while maintaining legitimate non-gambling gameplay.

The machine featured a playing field adorned with playing card imagery, particularly emphasizing the four aces from a standard deck of cards. Like many Gottlieb machines of this era, it likely utilized the company's distinctive relay-based scoring system and featured the characteristic sounds of chimes and bells that defined electro-mechanical pinball machines. The gameplay would have focused on hitting specific card-themed targets to complete poker-style combinations.

While not as well-known as some other Gottlieb titles from the same period, Four Aces exemplified the craftsmanship and attention to detail that made Gottlieb one of the leading pinball manufacturers of the 1950s. The machine's artwork and theme helped establish a formula that would be revisited numerous times throughout pinball history, with card games remaining a popular theme for decades to come.

Although exact production numbers are not readily available, machines from this era typically saw production runs ranging from 1,000 to 3,000 units. Today, Four Aces is considered a collectible piece that represents an important period in pinball history, when mechanical engineering and artistic design came together to create entertaining yet technically sophisticated amusement devices.