![\"Image](\"http:\/\/historyoftech.mcclurken.org\/pinball\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/03\/image-1.jpg\")
<\/a>\u201cThe Bally Bumper\u201d was a game that introduced bumpers to pinball. Bumpers consisted of coiled springs that the ball would ricochet between. Bumpers quickly became a staple in the pinball world. [4]<\/p>\n
Thanks to Gottlieb\u2019s pinball company, the year 1947 saw the addition of “flippers” with a Humpty Dumpty themed version of the game. [5] This added a feature\u00a0to pinball that became an essential part of the game. It was thanks to flippers that the next decade was known as the golden age in pinball history. [2] It was also thanks to the flippers that the ban on pinball was eventually lifted, due to the element of skill now added to the game.<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t until the mid 1970’s that electronic pinball machines were first introduced. This brought about a whole new wave of game innovations and features. Pinball machines began having themes that reflected pop-culture. Major additions included electronic scoring, alphanumeric scoring, electronic sounds and speech [6].<\/p>\n Nowadays, pinball machines aren’t all too popular.\u00a0For some, they are considered valued collector’s items. The game is often featured in digital formats like console games or smartphones. Pinball machines made today often feature fairly advance technology, such as motion sensors or LED lights [7].<\/p>\n 1. Montague Redgrave, 1871, Improvement in bagatelles, U.S Patent 115,357, issued May 30, 1871,<\/p>\n<\/a>End Notes<\/h5>\n