Reno

Bally's 'Reno' pinball machine, released in 1937, represents a significant piece of pre-war pinball history that capitalized on America's fascination with gambling and the Nevada casino scene. During this era, pinball manufacturers frequently drew inspiration from gambling themes, and 'Reno' was designed to capture the allure of the famous Nevada gaming destination.

The machine featured classic 1930s Art Deco styling with vibrant colors and elaborate artwork depicting casino imagery and the bright lights of Reno. As was typical for machines of this period, it utilized a simple yet engaging playfield design with mechanical bumpers, kickout holes, and pins. The scoring system was entirely mechanical, using rotating number wheels to track points.

As one of Bally's pre-war offerings, 'Reno' helped establish many of the foundational elements that would become standard in pinball design. The game operated on a traditional spring-loaded plunger system and featured the early implementation of tilt mechanisms to prevent cheating. While production numbers are not precisely known, machines from this era were typically manufactured in relatively small quantities due to the manufacturing limitations of the time and the approaching World War II restrictions on entertainment devices.