Harbor Lites

Harbor Lites, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in the mid-1950s, represents a classic example of the nautical-themed pinball machines that were popular during the post-war entertainment boom. The machine captured the romantic atmosphere of coastal harbors and maritime life, a theme that resonated with Americans during a period of economic prosperity and increased leisure activities.

The game featured traditional electro-mechanical components typical of its era, with mechanical score reels, bells, and chimes providing audio feedback. The playfield likely included features common to 1950s Gottlieb machines such as pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and various scoring targets designed to evoke harbor elements like lighthouses, boats, and dock features. The art package would have featured hand-painted scenes of harbor life, illuminated by the game's namesake harbor lights.

As with many Gottlieb machines of this period, Harbor Lites would have been manufactured at their Chicago facility, representing the golden age of pinball manufacturing when the city was the undisputed capital of coin-operated amusement devices. While production numbers are not definitively known, machines from this era typically saw production runs between 1,000 and 3,000 units. Today, Harbor Lites is considered a collectible piece that represents the classic era of electro-mechanical pinball design.