Machine Description

Harvest Moon, released by Bally Manufacturing in 1948, emerged during the post-World War II boom in pinball manufacturing when agricultural and rural themes were popular with American audiences. The machine captured the essence of pastoral Americana, featuring artwork depicting farm scenes and harvest imagery that resonated with both urban and rural players of the era.

The machine utilized the standard electro-mechanical technology of its time, featuring the characteristic bells, chimes, and mechanical score reels that defined pinball games of the late 1940s. Its playfield layout was relatively straightforward by modern standards but innovative for its time, incorporating pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and likely a simplified scoring system that rewarded skilled shot-making.

Harvest Moon represented a period when pinball manufacturers were working to establish pinball as a legitimate form of entertainment, following the lifting of pinball bans in some major cities. The game's wholesome agricultural theme helped present pinball as family-friendly entertainment rather than a gambling device. While not as well-known as some later classics, Harvest Moon serves as an important example of early post-war pinball design and thematic development.