Editing Pinball (section)

===1933: Electrification and active bumpers introduced===

The 1930s saw major advances in pinball design with the introduction of electrification. Pacific Amusements in Los Angeles, California produced ''Contact'' in 1933, which had an electrically powered [[solenoid]] to propel the ball out of a bonus hole in the middle of the playfield. Another solenoid rang a bell to reward the player.<ref>{{patent|US|2073132}}</ref> ''Contact'''s designer, Harry Williams, eventually formed his own company, [[WMS Industries|Williams Manufacturing]], in 1944. Other manufacturers quickly followed suit with similar features. Electric lights soon became standard on all pinball games, to attract players.

By the end of 1932, approximately 150 companies manufactured pinball machines, most of them in Chicago, Illinois.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.afr.com/politics/pinball-wizards-last-twist-20050414-jl3du|title = Pinball wizard's last twist|date = 14 April 2005}}</ref> Chicago has been the center of pinball manufacturing ever since. Competition was strong, and by 1934, only 14 companies remained.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cigaraficionado.com/article/flipper-fantasy-collecting-pinball-machines-7588|title = Flipper Fantasy: Collecting Pinball Machines}}</ref>

During [[World War II]], all major manufacturers of coin-operated games turned to manufacturing for the war effort. Some, like Williams, bought old games from operators and refurbished them, adding new artwork with a patriotic theme. At the end of the war, a generation of Americans looked for amusement in bars and malt shops, and pinball saw another golden age. Improvements such as the tilt-sensing mechanism and the awarding of free games (replays) appeared.