Back Skyway

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  1. By IPDB
    gameplay_feature
    Spring Bumpers ×13
    ipdb.corporate_entity_name
    Bally Manufacturing Corporation
    ipdb_id
    6937
    ipdb.image_urls
    ["https://www.ipdb.org/images/6937/image-1.png"]
    ipdb.manufacturer_trade_name
    Bally
    ipdb.model_number
    257
    ipdb.notable_features
    5 balls for 5 cents. Spring bumpers (13). This game has a shooter lane to allow the ball to loop 360 degrees around the playfield before entering into play. Spinning captive�ball on lower playfield arch is activated by either of two playfield rollover switches to spin inside its enclosed chamber, rolling over two switches for increased scoring. Advertised as 44 inches long by 22 inches wide.
    ipdb.notes
    Advertised as three different models: Model A: Payout model $99.50 Model B: High score (novelty) model $89.50 Model C: Free Play model (having free play coin chute) $99.50 Compare the captive�ball operation of this game to that of the playfield Doodle Bug feature in Williams' 1971 'Doodle Bug'. Regardless if Model A, B, or C, this game is listed in Bally documentation as one entry, Model 257, and appears on the flyer shown here as identical to their Model 281, Bally's 1938 'Paramount'. Other than dateless entries in Bally documentation that list Model 257 as either 'Skyway' or as 'Bally Skyway', the flyer shown here is the only other reference to this game of which we are aware. The lack of dates in Bally records is somewhat peculiar in retrospect, as if the game was not made, but the existence of the flyer means it got to that stage to have one and it shows the name of a Michigan distributor offering it for sale, so it appears it did go out the door at Bally. This flyer for 'Skyway' shows the identical image of the game as seen in the flyer for 'Paramount' except the backglass name has been changed. All the text is identical as well, except for the name change and, we note, the name SKYWAY in the text is expanded to fill the space alloted to the name PARAMOUNT. This suggests that either Skyway followed Paramount in production or Bally knew of both games when the flyer was made. Until we have more information, we cannot assert that Skyway's earlier model number means it was made before Paramount, a game dated November 1938. Skyway may have followed it in 1939.
    player_count
    1
    technology_generation
    electromechanical
    theme
    Air Racing
    theme
    Aviation