Take a bow — Williams’ 4 Roses is an electromechanical single-player wrapped in a theme of pageantry and beauty-queen glamour, designed by the legendary Steve Kordek with art by George Molentin. With reel scoring and a confirmed run of 1,250, it’s a handsome woodrail-era machine from one of the true titans of pinball history, a designer whose career helped shape the entire modern game.
The layout is a busy, engaging spread with several distinctive period features: two flippers, three pop bumpers, a pair of passive bumpers, two slingshots, a generous eleven rollover buttons, two gobble holes, and a rotating target. Those two gobble holes are a classic bit of era-defining design — the cruel-but-thrilling holes that swallow the ball for an award — while the eleven rollover buttons give a player a wealth of scoring opportunities to work through. The rotating target adds a spinning bit of variety, and the passive bumpers promise unpredictable caroms. It’s a feature-rich playfield that rewards active, engaged play in the classic Kordek mold.
4 Roses is a lovely example of Steve Kordek’s design craft, pairing an elegant theme of pageantry with a satisfying, feature-packed playfield full of period charm. Kordek was a genuine legend whose innovations echoed across decades of pinball history, and playing one of his creations is a small brush with that towering legacy. For the collector who cherishes the golden age of EM pinball and its foundational figures, it’s a rewarding find. Work those eleven rollovers, brave the gobble holes, and spin the rotating target. Some machines are treasured for their maker as much as their play, and this Kordek gem is one of them. Crown the winner and take your bow.