Machine Description

Hi-Score Pool was a unique electro-mechanical pinball machine that capitalized on the widespread popularity of pool halls and billiards culture in the 1960s. Released by Chicago Coin during a period when themed pinball machines were becoming increasingly sophisticated, it represented an interesting fusion of two popular coin-operated amusement categories: pinball and billiards.

The machine's design likely featured artwork and playfield elements that mimicked pool table elements, including pocket-like scoring zones and possibly billiard ball imagery. As an electro-mechanical game from this era, it would have used relay switches, stepper units, and mechanical score reels to track player progress. The scoring system presumably rewarded players for completing shot combinations reminiscent of pool game scenarios.

While not as widely remembered as some other machines from the late 1960s, Hi-Score Pool represented the arcade industry's continuing efforts to cross-pollinate different gaming concepts. This period was particularly significant as it represented the twilight years of the electro-mechanical era, just before the solid-state revolution would transform the pinball industry in the late 1970s.