Skill Pool

Skill Pool, released by Chicago Coin in the mid-1970s, represents a fascinating intersection between traditional pinball design and billiards-themed gameplay. During this period, manufacturers were experimenting with various themed machines to capture player interest, and Skill Pool capitalized on the popularity of pool halls and billiards culture of the era.

The machine's design cleverly incorporated billiards-themed elements into classic pinball gameplay mechanics. The playfield likely featured pool ball targets, possibly numbered pockets as scoring zones, and art that mimicked the green felt of a pool table. This combination of familiar billiards elements with pinball action helped attract both pinball enthusiasts and pool players to the machine.

As an electro-mechanical machine from the pre-solid state era, Skill Pool relied on relay switches, stepper units, and mechanical score reels to track player progress. These mechanical components, while less sophisticated than later electronic systems, provided the distinctive clicks, chimes, and mechanical authenticity that many collectors now cherish. The machine serves as a representative example of the innovation happening in pinball design during the last few years of the electro-mechanical era, just before the industry's transition to solid-state electronics.