Expert: Rodger Knutson - 8/12/2008

Question
Hi Rodger:

I have sent this message to you before, but it may not have reached you or perhaps you are still researching my question.  Here it is:

I  have a vintage pinball game I want to sell.  It is a purely mechanical, no flippers, baseball theme unit called Batter Up.  Its wood case and glass top are excellent, the playing surface is in good shape with good color, and all pins and metal balls are present, with working coin slide, ball drop, and spring plunger.  This unit was made by the H & M Manufacturing Co. of Chicago, in the 1932-34 era, I believe.  
The game is about 30-1/2 in long X 16-1/2 in wide X 9 in high at the back and 6 in high at the front.  Our family owned it from new; it was given to my father for helping a shop owner clean out the rental space where the machine was manufactured.  The H & M Mfg Co. was in a store/shop rental space on the street level of the apartment building we lived in.  



Can you tell me something about the history of the H & M  company and this game, and its value?  Would you care to make an offer for it?   The game is stored in Chicago.

If you want, I can send a picture.  I sent a picture before, but it may have caused a problem in your receiving the message.

Mike

mboyajian@sbglobal.net


Answer
Hi Mike, I have been trying to locate some specific information on your game but so far I haven found my information, but they made a pile of different games like this, Re; Ballyhoo, favorite, play ball, runabout, whizzard and others in and around 1932. These are very neat games but not worth a ton of money, value is around $150.00 to 275.00, I know it's crazy but that is what the value guides are saying. If I had yours I would not take less then 350.00 for it but maybe it would never sell. You have a very nice one. Very sorry for the delay in returning some information to you. I really wanted to be sure, and also to find something on just your game but just can't find anything for you in my stuff, I been looking high and low through my papers.
Thank you
Rodger Knutson