Philadelphia Toboggan Co. Skee Ball Machine, 1950s USA

About the Item

Original 1950s Philadelphia Toboggan Co. Skee Ball Machine. Fully mechanical. No need to plug in! You roll the ball and when it enters one of the score holes, a metal piece twists a cable which then flips the score cards. The only electrical is a small light bulb that illuminates the score, if desired. The Philadelphia Toboggan Company had been building carousels and roller coasters since 1904 and saw the Skee-Ball alleys as a way to diversify business. They concentrated more on craftsmanship (prior to this manufacturing was more assembly-line based so craftsmanship wasn't as high of quality). Each machine received a total of 55 dedicated hours of specialized work before it was completed. Many mechanical and electro-mechanical Skee-ball alleys were sold to arcades and amusement parks. Brown wood body with a pale green rubber ramp. Fully mechanized ball and scoreboard operation. A metal coin slot sits snugly in front right leg. The patina and wear speak for the rich history of this iconic arcade game. Still fully operational and in good working order. Includes all 9 of the original wood Skee-balls. Incredibly rare and impressive piece of American history. A relic of an age long gone, this game embodies the very origin of arcade culture. Missing front left leg. Doesn't effect gameplay or structure whatsoever. Sometimes doesnt keep perfect score.

Dimensions:

Height: 75 in (190.5 cm)Width: 30 in (76.2 cm)Depth: 165 in (419.1 cm)

Materials and Techniques:

Metal,Plastic,Rope,Rubber,Wood

Place of Origin:

United States

Period:

1950-1959

Date of Manufacture:

1950s

Condition:

Wear consistent with age and use. Minor losses.