Send in the clown — this is Clown from the Spanish manufacturer Playmatic, an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a cheerful circus-and-carnival 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 genuinely player-friendly layout.
The layout is a lively, engaging spread with a welcome touch: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a generous four mushroom bumpers, a pair of slingshots, a kick-out hole, and a ball-saver post between the flippers. That ball-saver post is a genuinely player-friendly feature, giving you a fighting chance against the dreaded center drain, while the combination of pop and mushroom bumpers promises a wildly bouncy, unpredictable ball that caroms across the playfield and demands active nudging. The kick-out hole offers a captured-ball award to chase, all in service of the festive clown theme. It’s a bumper-rich design that rewards a player who keeps the ball moving through that busy field.
This Playmatic Clown is a fine example of the broader, international sweep of pinball history beyond the familiar American names — and it’s worth noting that Inder built a different machine also titled Clown, so collectors should mind which one they’re chasing. Playmatic built games with real character, and this carnival-themed title carries the European flipper tradition with its own distinctive flavor, right down to that helpful ball-saver post. For the collector who appreciates the global corners of the hobby, it’s a worthy find. Pop that ball-saver post, ride the field of bumpers, and share a laugh with the clown. The far corners of pinball history hold plenty of charming surprises, and this Spanish carnival machine is one of them. Send in the clown and drop a coin.