H. C. Evans & Company of Chicago, Illinois was a leading manufacturer of casino equipment and supplies, trade stimulators, pocket novelties, amusement park supplies, amusement games and shooting galleries. In 1929, it claimed to have the largest factory in the world, engaged in the manufacturing the types of products for which it was known. H. C. Evans became a pioneer of console gambling games under the founder’s son, Dick Hood, with the wildly popular Galloping Dominoes unit in 1936. By 1939, Evans was really feeling the heat of the anti-gambling lobby and decided to produce a console game incorporating skill-based elements, which led to the development of Evans Ten Strike. In this game, the player uses a knob to position the arm on a mannikin holding a steel ball and then presses a button to launch the ball at a set of miniature bowling pins. The game remained in continuous production from 1939 to 1953. In December 1948, the firm purchased the phonography inventory of Mills Novelty Company, a manufacturer of jukeboxes and then launched its first jukebox. H. C. Evan's impact with their Ten Strike Bowlers, Bat-A-Score and other amusement machines are still felt today and are some of the most desired titles sought by top collectors worldwide. In March of 1954, the firm introduced its last coin operated console slot machine, named Saddle and Turf. Less than a year later H. C. Evans & Co. was out of business.​
H. C. Evans & Company released 70 machines. (1927 - 1955) - Below are some examples from The Torrence Collection.

1900S H. C. EVANS PORTABLE CANDY RACE TRACK

Rarity of the highest order, especially in this condition. Made in different sizes, this is the largest, the 24-horse version and six feet across in diameter. Quite the spectacle. Date of origin sometime in the 1920s or 1930s. Used as an early gambling machine, the track is turned by the operator and the numbered horse closest to the finish line wins. The person who wagered on the corresponding numbered winning horse would win the money. Awesome gambling and Americana antique!

1939 H. C. EVANS TEN STRIKE

1939 Evans Ten Strike Bowler. Jon has brought several of these back to life and the collection has owned several of these. A must have manikin collector piece for any vintage arcade collection. Evans made these mechanical manikin bowlers from September 1939 to January 1953 in several different variations. Less than 100-point scoring is shown on backglass using a rotating backlit score reel type device, which projects through a magnifier onto the score glass. Thousand scoring is shown in a conventional backlit lighting manner. Game uses two 1.25" balls and only plays five frames. First generation pre-WW2 (1939-1942) version has a green and yellow backglass with "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass. Post-War second generation (1947-1948) version has a green pin triangle with red pins and "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass. The third generation (1949-1953) version with light animated bowler man throwing the ball and has "Ten Strike" at the top of the glass. The Evans Ten Strike is one the most desired titles for collectors. A beautifully crafted skill game that will forever be desired by all collectors.

​1939 H. C. EVANS TEN STRIKE 

2nd example of the 1939 Evans Ten Strike Bowler. Different graphics on the cabinet but a great working example. A must have ​manikin collector piece for any vintage arcade collection. Evans made these mechanical manikin bowlers from September 1939 to January 1953 in several different variations. Less than 100-point scoring is shown on the back glass using a rotating backlit score reel type device, which projects through a magnifier onto the score glass. Thousand scoring is shown in a conventional backlit lighting manner. Game uses two 1.25" balls and only plays five frames. First generation pre-WW2 (1939-1942) version has a green and yellow back glass with "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass. Post-War second generation (1947-1948) version has a green pin triangle with red pins and "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass. The third generation (1949-1953) version with light animated bowler man throwing the ball and has "Ten Strike" at the top of the glass.

1941 H. C. EVANS TOMMY GUN

RARE, RARE, RARE.... You can count the known examples of the Evans Tommy Gun on one hand! A must have for the top WW2 arcade collectors. Made in 1941, at a time in American history when everybody despised Hitler and despised the Nazis, so this was the game to shoot down the Nazi planes. 300 shots for 5 cents and when fired the game simulates a machine gun sound. The Evans Tommy Gun came in two bases that held the gun up. The early version had a metal stand, later it was changed to a wooden box stand. This gorgeous example is the wooden box stand version. 

​1948 H. C. EVANS BAT-A-SCORE

A holy grail collectible arcade piece! The Evans Bat-A-Score is a single player, manikin vintage baseball classic. The manikin pitcher actually throws a steel ball overhand through the air and then the player using a hand-controlled bat must hit the ball. The back of the playfield has target areas for a single, double, triple and home run. Ten pitches for a nickel. The earliest version of the Bat-A-Score had a manikin catcher, but the catcher took a lot of damage from the steel balls thrown from the pitcher. Soon the manikin catcher was replaced with a curved metal shield. The head of the Bat-A-Score has animated base running and scoring. The Bat-A-Score is absolutely the centerpiece to any coin-op or baseball collection! 

​1949 H. C. EVANS TEN STRIKE

3rd example of the Evans Ten Strike in absolutely pristine condition. This is the third generation (1949-1953) version with light animated bowler man throwing the ball and has "Ten Strike" at the top of the glass. Evans made these mechanical manikin bowlers from September 1939 to January 1953 in several different variations. Less than 100-point scoring is shown on the back glass using a rotating backlit score reel type device, which projects through a magnifier onto the score glass. Thousand scoring is shown in a conventional backlit lighting manner. Game uses two 1.25" balls and only plays five frames. First generation pre-WW2 (1939-1942) version has a green and yellow back glass with "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass. Post-War second generation (1947-1948) version has a green pin triangle with red pins and "Ten Strike" at the bottom of the glass.