United Manufacturing Company was founded in 1942 by Lyn Durant and Harry Williams in Chicago, Illinois. They started United Mfg. together after the Exhibit Supply Co. released them from their contracts. Their original intention was to revamp existing games due to the war materials shortage. While United Mfg. has produced many types of different amusement machines, its bowling games and shuffle alleys have been primarily responsible for its reputation. United Mfg. which had the great fortune to develop a new type of game just as a new fad began sweeping the country. In October 1949, United deployed a bowling game called Shuffle Alley in which the player launched a small metal cased object similar to a hockey puck down an eight-foot lane to trigger switches on the playing field that would cause suspended pins to retract to simulate being knocked down. However, perhaps it was United's Star Slugger (1955) that stands out the most. The Star Slugger not only featured a triple deck scoring and backbox animation, but also included bat control. For the first time, players could swing the bat weak, medium or hard, depending on the control button they selected. Before long, United Mfg. included pitching controls, letting players choose curve balls, fast balls or sliders. I believe the United Star Slugger is the best pitch and bat machine ever produced. In the early 1960s, the Seeburg Corp. bought out United Mfg. assets, including United's main plant on California Ave. in Chicago. Seeburg's management viewed the United Mfg. acquisition as a way for Seeburg distributors to provide operators with a complete game line as well as complete lines in music and vending.
​United Manufacturing Co. released 126 machines. (1942 - 1962) - Below are some examples from The Torrence Collection.

1950S UNITED TEAM HOCKEY

A very rare two player electromechanical hockey themed game. One team has the red players, and the other team is the black players. Each player has a black handle that they grip and spin to make their hockey stick strike at the ball. 10 balls for a nickel and the player with the most goals wins the game.

1950S UNITED STEEPLE CHASE

RARE! A rolldown cabinet flipper less pinball with animated horse racing in the head. A gambling credit payout game as a horse is picked for the player. If the player's horse wins the race, the game pays out credits. The number of winning credits depends on how many lengths the player's horse wins by. 

1954 UNITED DELUXE JUNGLE GUN

RARE! You hardly ever see this game and never in this type of condition. For a dime you get 20 shots. Five extra shots for 20 hits. A perfect score is 850 points. A must have for the 1950s shooting gallery game fanatic. Beautiful condition.

​1954 UNITED CARNIVAL GUN

Rare and one of the finest vintage rifle shooting gallery games from the 1950s. Moving targets include rabbits, ducks, squirrels and bull's eyes. If the player achieves "Marksman" in under 60 seconds, the player is awarded 2 extra points for every second under a minute. Gorgeous cabinet and fun carnival themed gun game.

​1954 UNITED CARNIVAL GUN

Both of these rare and beautiful original United Carnival Guns play equal in every way. One of the best vintage rifle shooting gallery games from the 1950s. Moving targets include rabbits, ducks, squirrels and bull's eyes. If the player achieves "Marksman" in under 60 seconds, the player is awarded 2 extra points for every second under a minute. A fun carnival themed gun game.

1955 UNITED DERBY ROLL

Perhaps the finest United Derby Roll in existence. Gorgeous art deco design and works perfectly. The player rolls a ball down the playfield into desired holes which advance the animated mechanical racehorses in the head of the machine. One or two player game. There is a total of ten ball rolls per game. If the player gets one of their horses to the finish line first, they receive an additional 1000 points. Second receives 800 points and a third place receives an extra 600 points. The winning player is really playing for highest score but having your horse getting to the finish line will help your score the most.

1956 UNITED PIRATE GUN

Rare and fun pirate themed arcade rifle shooting gallery. Targets are nine stationary pirates and two stationary lanterns. There is also a crazy looking pirate ​that is constantly and quickly moving back and forth for higher points if hit. If the player achieves "expert", the player receives an extra time bonus.

1956 UNITED STAR SLUGGER

Perhaps the finest United Star Slugger in existence. Jon's favorite electromechanical pitch and bat ever made. Gorgeous art deco design with the animated running man unit with three dimensional base runners. Unique features like three different bat speeds (slow, medium and fast), a super home run hole, three different home run decks and the player can select one to three innings. 

​1958 UNITED SKY RAIDER

Rocket ships on a rotating drum inside the machine with a bulb mounted in the middle. When they pass in front of the bulb, it looks like they are 'flying' in front of the gun sights. Aim the twin cannons at the rocket ship (there is a crosshair in the sight that moves as the cannons move) and start firing. The cannons both have recoil and give the effect of twin machine guns. The game is over when your time runs out or you have fired 100 shots. Beautiful 1950s art deco graphics and a ton of fun.

​1958 UNITED SKY RAIDER

Both of these rare and beautiful United Sky Raiders were restored by Jon are equal in every way. Rocket ships on a rotating drum inside the machine with a bulb mounted in the middle. When they pass in front of the bulb, it looks like they are 'flying' in front of the gun sights. Aim the twin cannons at the rocket ship (there is a crosshair in the sight that moves as the cannons move) and start firing. The cannons both have recoil and give the effect of twin machine guns. The game is over when your time runs out or you have fired 100 shots. Beautiful 1950s art deco graphics and a ton of fun.

1958 UNITED MIDGET ALLEY

Rare! This is a game that everyone loves to play. The player actually aims at the bowling pins with a turret. When the ball is delivered to the turret, a motor underneath the ball begins to spin the ball extremely fast. The player then aims the shot, presses the ball release button and the ball kicks out of the turret. The ball is spinning at a high rate of speed and propels down the lane hitting the bowling pins. A truly competitive, fun game of skill.