In 1943, Harry Williams founded the Williams Manufacturing Company in Chicago, Illinois. Williams gained his initial fame as a pinball designer in the 1930s. The first seven products were a fortune-telling machine called Selector Scope (1944), two electro-mechanical games, Periscope (1944), Liberator (1944), a novelty game titled Zingo (1944), a pinball conversion called Flat-Top (1945), another EM arcade game, Circus Romance (1945) and a second pinball conversion called Laura (1945). The two pinball conversions (Flat-Top & Laura) were built by purchasing older pinball machines made by other companies and changing artwork and other elements on the playfield. The lack of raw materials during World War II made the manufacture of new machines difficult and expensive. The first all original amusement device made by Williams was a flipper less pinball machine called Suspense (1946). During the late 1940s and early 1950s, Williams continued to make pinball machines, arcade games and wonderful baseball themed pitch and bat games. In 1950, Williams produced Lucky Inning, their first pinball machine to have its bottom flippers facing inward in the modern manner. In 1948, Williams sold 49% of his company to a Philadelphia distributor named Sam Stern, who became a vice president and took over much of the day-to-day running of the company. In 1959, Stern orchestrated a buyout of Williams. Harry Williams left the company after the buyout of his company, which was renamed the Williams Electronic Manufacturing Corporation. In 1960, Harry Williams designed his last pinball machine for Williams, the horse racing themed game Nags. Three years later, the company was acquired by the Seeburg Corp. Sam Stern continued to run the amusement business, which was renamed Williams Electronics in 1967.
Williams Manufacturing Co. released 191 machines. (1943 - 1961)​ - Below are some examples from The Torrence Collection.

​1947 WILLIAMS BOX SCORE

A very special game for the baseball or the sports coin-op collector. Very rare baseball themed game of skill, the player rolls a wooden ball down the playfield using their hand. Holes representing hits, home run and outs are the targets located at the back of the game. Original artwork painted of a pitcher on the center of the playfield, original back glass and the vertical running man unit. The first baseball themed game with the vertical running man unit. Art deco!

1950 WILLIAMS DOUBLE HEADER 

Without a doubt the greatest themed shuffle alley game ever made and equally rare. Themed with the running man unit, the first Williams game with horizontal running man unit, as running men appear from the top instead of the bottom horizontal. Depending on where the player slides the puck, a single, double, triple, or home run is scored. When a hit is made, animated base runners pop down from above in the hooded area above the alley and run the bases according to the hit scored. Runners remain on base while the player throws four shots for that inning. In perfect working order and with the super rare original Yankees vs. Dodgers back glass.

​1954 WILLIAMS JET FIGHTER

Gorgeous example of the extremely rare Williams Jet Fighter. The jet and handles have been polished and in beautiful condition. This wonderful game uses a light projection unit to put a user-controlled fighter jet on the silver projection screen. Then motorized planes fly across the screen and you must shoot them down. Extremely rare and in perfect working order.

​1955 WILLIAMS SIDEWALK ENGINEER

Very rare, especially with this caliber of restoration. Restored by Jon using all original parts, including the bulldozer, marquee, controls, background art, etc. Polished hardware, gorgeous paint and works perfectly. A visually interesting game. The player controls a remote-controlled bulldozer around the inside of the cabinet that is full of sand for sixty seconds. 

​1957 WILLIAMS JIGSAW

Rare, especially in this condition. A very nice example of the 1957 Williams Jigsaw pinball. A very stunning game that is fast and fun. By completing the roll over lights, the back glass jigsaw puzzle lights up. The playfield has one gobble hole and two kick out holes (on both sides of the single gobble hole). The object is to rollover all the pieces of the puzzle, completing the lighted jigsaw puzzle in the back glass. 

1959 WILLIAMS PINCH HITTER

Awesome pitch and bat, this 1959 Williams Pinch Hitter has been carefully restored to perfection. One or two players, multiple pitches (fast and curve), game-to-game carry over feature (each grand slam lights a letter of the word "pinch hitter", lighting the whole title gave a replay). This game plays fast and true.

​1960 WILLIAMS OFFICIAL BASEBALL

Always known as such a beautiful game. A fun pitch and bat with actual manikin ball players on the playfield and a running man unit in the head. One small draw back of the game is it does not have a home run deck. But on the other hand, it has an awesome pitching unit. The umpire hands the ball to the pitcher and then the pitcher moves forward to pitch the ball. Fantastic early pitch and bat game!

1962 WILLIAMS ROAD RACER

RARE! Another special piece in the collection and beautifully restored by Jon, making sure this is without a doubt the finest Road Racer in existence. Inside the cabinet of the game is a barrel that rotates with an interesting road map on it. The center of the road has metal electrical contacts throughout. The car also has metal contacts on the bottom of it. The goal is to keep the car on the road by standing in front of the machine and steering the full-size steering wheel. As you drive properly on the road a bell rings as all the contacts complete the circuit and you score points. 

​1965 WILLIAMS TOUCHDOWN

A very unique pitch and bat game because it is a football theme. Has a football animated running man unit. Instead of "outs" (like baseball), "fumbles" are used (three fumbles per quarter). Perfect working order, rare and unique!

​1965 WILLIAMS MINI GOLF

Extremely nice fully working example of the best electromechanical golf game ever made. One player or two players for head-to-head competition. Manikin golfer that the player controls the aim of the club towards the golf holes. The players play holes one through nine. Score reels show the strokes taken for each player and lowest score wins. Great fun and an addicting machine.