Expert: Larry Bieza - 8/12/2008

Question
Hi Larry:

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 complete message. Thank you,

Mike

mboyajian@sbglobal.net

Larry, Please let me know you have received this message.

Thanks, again.  Mike  

Answer
Hi Mike, Sorry I have no information on the H and M company.  As pinball ramped up into a nationwide craze in the early 30's there were pinball manufacturing companies sprouting up like weeds.  Very few of the small outfits were able to compete against the production capacity of the large game makers and subsequently either sold their game ideas or just closed up shop.  With few exceptions, the games of 1930-33 are of the pin and hole variety and are not very valuable.  After that the games needed more flash to stand out, and games from the next few years were very innovative in their design.  Games of the pin and hole type typically sell from $200-400.  www.coinoplibrary.com