Snap Traps

A specialized Trap Holes fitted with a metal lid that snaps shut after the ball falls in, permanently capturing it for the remainder of the game. The closing lid adds a dramatic visual punctuation to the capture — the ball disappears and the trap seals behind it. Snap traps were used on games in the mid-1930s, appearing on approximately 28 IPDB-cataloged machines including early Gottlieb titles, and represent one of the more theatrical hazards of the pre-Flippers era when playfields were designed around permanent ball loss rather than sustained play.