- ipdb.corporate_entity_name
- Automatic Industries, Incorporated
- ipdb_id
- 5396
- ipdb.notes
- A previous patent application #528,474, covering a prior Whiffle game design, had included a center shuttle (a knob in the center of the cabinet front, separate from the coin chute, to be pushed in by the player to operate the shuttle board, dropping the playfield balls at the start of a new game). This knob was dropped from production of Whiffle after the 15th game. The patent failed, and one can infer from reading the Encyclopedia of Pinball Volume 1 that the failure was tied to this center shuttle, but the actual reason is not specifically stated there. The patent application was continued under new number 1,938,495 showing the playfield for Whiffle Board Deluxe and incorporated all the changes made up to this point, including:
1) the Deluxe playfield
2) supplier-produced Monarch coin slide
3) improved ball shooter
4) ball-lift knob
but this time it did not include the center shuttle knob.
This new application was granted.
Patent #1,938,495 [GAME APPARATUS] filed January 19, 1932. Granted December 5, 1933 to A.L. Paulin ET AL.
This listing is based entirely on the patent images and on the unique name WHIFFLE BOARD DELUXE. We have confirmed no actual examples of the Deluxe game shown in the patent drawings to know if the word "Deluxe" appeared anywhere on it, to allow us to differentiate it from the original Whiffle Board.
- month
- 7
- player_count
- 1
- technology_generation
- pure-mechanical
- year
- 1931