A TINY TENPIN TOY

Americans turned to toys and games for home use during the Great Depression, when spending money was scarce. A tabletop mechanical bowling alley could be the perfect solution for a cash-strapped family hoping to enjoy an evening of bowling. Gotham Pressed Steel Corporation produced this tenpin game, in which users line up a shot with the attached bowler, who sends the ball rolling down the alley toward the wooden pins. By the 1950s, Gotham was well-known for its electric football games and a Jackie Robinson-themed mechanical baseball game. Watch a video!