The Bingo Pinball War: United vs. Bally, 1951-1957

United and Bally were the only two true US manufacturers of bingo pinball machines, and in the 1950s they fought an all-out battle to capture the elusive bingo pinball machine market. This comparative history details the intriguing story of mid-century, American industrial and entertainment innovation that pitted United engineer, Lyndon Durant and Bally's Don Hooker against each other in a battle royale to produce the best bingo pinball machine. Through more than 200 photos and illustrations detailing 60 games, Jeffrey Lawton, premier bingo pinball machine enthusiast, introduces Durant's United games and the simultaneous, and sometimes retaliatory, creative efforts employed by Hooker from 1951 to 1957. Lawton's analysis is complete with photos of rare games and playfields and descriptions of complex bingo pinball circuitry.