Totem

Totem, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1975, represents a fascinating piece of pinball history from the latter years of the electro-mechanical era. The machine's theme drew inspiration from Native American culture and iconography, featuring colorful totem pole artwork and related tribal imagery that was characteristic of mid-1970s aesthetic sensibilities.

The machine featured a traditional fan layout with four flippers and incorporated several innovative mechanical features for its time, including drop targets and pop bumpers. The playfield design emphasized shot-making precision while maintaining the approachable gameplay style that Gottlieb machines were known for during this period. The scoring system, typical of EM games, utilized mechanical reels and chimes to provide player feedback.

Totem was produced during a pivotal transition period in pinball history, released just a few years before the industry would begin its shift toward solid-state electronics. While not as widely recognized as some other Gottlieb titles from this era, Totem represents the refined engineering and manufacturing capabilities that the company had developed through decades of mechanical pinball production. The machine's durability and straightforward gameplay mechanics have helped several examples survive to become sought-after collectibles among enthusiasts of electro-mechanical pinball machines.