- credit
- Harry Williams — Design
- ipdb.corporate_entity_name
- Exhibit Supply Company
- ipdb_id
- 1440
- ipdb.image_urls
- ["https://www.ipdb.org/images/1440/image-3.jpg","https://www.ipdb.org/images/1440/image-4.jpg"]
- ipdb.manufacturer_trade_name
- ESCO
- ipdb.model_number
- 36
- ipdb.notable_features
- Cabinet was advertised as 36 inches long and 18 inches wide.
- ipdb.notes
- According to the Encyclopedia of Pinball Vol 2, this game originally was to be called 'Contact', made under contract with Pacific Amusement Company (PAMCO) to help meet sales of their popular game of the same name, designed by Harry Williams. However, to resolve a royalty disparity between the two manufacturers, Williams changed the name of this Exhibit game to 'Lightning'. The EOP does not pinpoint whether production began before or after the name was changed, and this allows for the possibility that there could have been some of these 1934 'Contact' games made by Exhibit. If that is true, it could explain any otherwise unaccountable variations in design or style for 'Contact' games identified as made by PAMCO.
'Lightning' is the first pin table made by Exhibit, and their first EM game. Exhibit made two sizes, 18 x 36 inches, and 22 by 44 inches. For easy identification, pinball literature will include the cabinet length after the name. Our website adds the designation "First Style" as well.
The playfield layout was the same as 'Contact'. This became problematic from a marketing standpoint, so Harry Williams redesigned 'Lightning' to have a new and different upper playfield than 'Contact', colored red, and a different cabinet. This redesigned game is known as Exhibit's 1934 'Lightning (38, New Style)'.
- month
- 4
- player_count
- 1
- technology_generation
- electromechanical
- year
- 1934