Canasta

Production start date: 05/16/50 or 06/16/50 Production end date: 09/05/50 The earliest ad we saw for this game was from Genco, in The Billboard Jul-29-1950 page 130. We previously showed a date for this game as July 1950. Resale ads in subsequent Cash Box issues date this game as (7/50). The date that Genco placed under the playfield shooter lane is "July 1950". All three games pictured here have a long wireform placed above and between the flippers. This wireform does not appear on the game in the manufacturer's flyer nor in their promotional photo. Our close-up photo of this wireform shows each end of it passes over the flipper while the center portion dips down to ball level and is angled there. We notice the #3 and #4 kick-out holes are aimed to kick the ball towards the wide flipper gap to drain the ball and this may have been a complaint from players and operators. The wireform may have been a way to deflect a kicked ball off of the wireform's angled center and towards the nearby flipper to extend game play. Playfield posts would not work for this purpose as their placement in this flipper gap would disallow the turret shooter the full range of choice for shooting a ball into play. In effect, the wireform serves as a long one-way gate. Because this device is not featured in the flyer or promo photo, it could have been issued later by Genco in response to field calls or issued by third-party parts suppliers such as Block Marble Company. Our theory about the operation of this wireform has not been confirmed by any owner or player of this game. We invite their input on this.