Venus

Venus, released by D. Gottlieb & Co. in 1959, represents a classic example of the golden age of electro-mechanical pinball machines. This celestial-themed game emerged during a period when space exploration and sci-fi themes were capturing the public imagination, coinciding with the early years of the Space Race between the United States and Soviet Union.

The machine featured artwork depicting the Roman goddess Venus among cosmic imagery, reflecting the prevalent space-age aesthetics of the late 1950s. As was typical for games of this era, Venus utilized relay-based scoring mechanisms and chime units for sound effects. The playfield likely included standard features of the period such as pop bumpers, kick-out holes, and scoring lanes, though specific details of the layout are not extensively documented.

Gottlieb's Venus would have been manufactured during a significant period in pinball history, when the company was one of the industry's leading innovators. The late 1950s marked an era when pinball manufacturers were introducing more sophisticated scoring mechanisms and playfield features, though still working within the constraints of electro-mechanical technology. While not necessarily one of Gottlieb's most famous titles, Venus represents an important piece of pinball history from a time when the industry was evolving rapidly.