Hi-Diver

Hi-Diver, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1937, represents a classic example of Depression-era pinball innovation when manufacturers sought to provide affordable entertainment to the masses. The machine's theme capitalized on the popular sport of diving and aquatics, which had gained significant public interest following the 1936 Berlin Olympics.

The game featured a distinctive art package depicting high divers and aquatic scenes, typical of the period's attractive and colorful artwork designed to draw players to the machine. As an electro-mechanical pinball machine of the late 1930s, Hi-Diver utilized a relatively simple but engaging playfield design with scoring holes, rubber bumpers, and metal rollovers. The gameplay focused on hitting specific targets that would advance scores in a step-wise progression, characteristic of games from this era.

Hi-Diver was produced during a significant period in pinball history, as the industry was still establishing itself and games were transitioning from the simpler 'pin games' of the early 1930s to more complex designs. While exact production numbers are not well documented, machines from this era typically saw production runs of several thousand units. Today, Hi-Diver is considered a collectible piece that represents the pre-war era of pinball development, though surviving examples are relatively rare.