Teacher's Pet

Teacher's Pet, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1963, represents a classic example of early 1960s electro-mechanical pinball design during the golden age of mechanical pinball machines. The educational theme was fairly unique for its time, when most machines featured themes around sports, fantasy, or adventure.

The machine's playfield featured academic motifs including books, blackboards, and school-related imagery, making it stand out among its contemporaries. Like other Gottlieb machines of this era, it likely featured the company's distinctive bumper design and high-quality craftsmanship that made them an industry leader. The scoring system was fully mechanical, utilizing rotating number reels and chimes to provide player feedback.

While not one of Gottlieb's most famous titles, Teacher's Pet represents an interesting slice of early 1960s Americana, when pinball manufacturers occasionally experimented with unconventional themes to capture player interest. The educational theme may have been an attempt to make pinball machines appear more wholesome during an era when they still faced some controversy and legal restrictions in certain jurisdictions.