Strikes and Spares

Strikes and Spares, released by Chicago Coin in the late 1950s, represents a classic example of bowling-themed pinball machines that were particularly popular during the golden age of bowling in America. This machine capitalized on the nationwide bowling craze that peaked in the late 1950s and early 1960s, when bowling was a dominant social activity across the United States.

The machine's design cleverly incorporated bowling imagery and scoring mechanics into traditional pinball gameplay. Players would attempt to knock down pin-like targets and achieve specific shot combinations that mimicked actual bowling frames. The playfield likely featured lanes, pin configurations, and scoring displays that would be familiar to bowlers, making it instantly appealing to the bowling alley audience where many of these machines were installed.

As an electro-mechanical pinball machine of its era, Strikes and Spares utilized relay-based score keeping and mechanical components typical of the period. The machine would have featured the characteristic sounds of chimes and bells, with illuminated backglass artwork depicting bowling scenes. While production numbers are not definitively known, bowling-themed machines from this era typically saw moderate production runs due to their popular theme and location-specific appeal.