Ring the bell for a jackpot — Cherry Bell is an electromechanical four-player from the Spanish manufacturer Sonic, wrapped in a slot-machine gambling theme, one of the European makers whose machines form a fascinating chapter of pinball’s global story. With reel scoring, it’s an intriguing continental machine with a satisfying, target-rich playfield and a distinctly European flavor.
The layout is a solid, engaging spread: two flippers, two pop bumpers, a pair of slingshots, six standup targets, and four kick-out holes. The strategy hook is a nice one: the left saucer lights triple bonus, giving a focused player a clear, rewarding objective to chase. Those six standup targets give plenty of additional objectives to work through, while the four kick-out holes offer captured-ball awards and the two pop bumpers keep the ball lively up top. It’s a target-rich design that rewards accurate shooting and keeping the ball moving, all in service of the slot-machine gambling theme and the cherries-and-bells imagery it evokes.
Cherry Bell is a fine example of the broader, international sweep of pinball history beyond the familiar American names. Sonic built machines with real character, and this gambling-themed title carries the European flipper tradition with its own distinctive flavor. For the collector who appreciates the global corners of the hobby and the makers who worked outside the usual pantheon, it’s a worthy find — a reminder that pinball’s story was always bigger than any one country. Light that left saucer for triple bonus, work the six standups, and hit the jackpot. The far corners of pinball history hold plenty of well-built surprises, and this Spanish gambling machine is one of them. Ring the bell and drop a coin.