1965 エレキボール (Electric Ball) by カトウ (Kato) & 日本自動販売機 (Japan Vending Machine)

Name: エレキボール (Electric Ball)
Year: 1965
Company: カトウ (Kato) & 日本自動販売機 (Japan Vending Machine)

Electric Ball is a smartball-style game.  It was the 2nd machine released by Kato, after Carnival.

Amusement Journal 2015-11

Transcription:

次に作ったのが「エレキボール」。これがヒットした。同機はスマートボールを電気式にしたようなゲーム機で、盤面上のターゲットをボールが通過するとそのターゲットが点灯、横並びに四つ点灯させれば再プレイできるという内容だった。ビルボードのデザインは、近所に住む女子美術大卒のご婦人に依頼した。製作には栄子氏も駆り出された。「周りの模様は自分で考え、色を塗ったりテープを貼ったり色々しましたよ」。まさに家内制手工業の世界である。

Machine translation:

The next thing I made was an "electric ball." This was a hit. The device was a game machine that resembled an electric smart ball, and when the ball passed through a target on the board, that target would light up, and if you lit up four in a row, you could play again. The design of the billboard was commissioned to a woman who lived in the neighborhood and graduated from Joshibi University of Fine Arts. Eiko was also brought in to help with the production. She said, ``I came up with the pattern around it myself, and did a lot of things like coloring and pasting tape.'' It is truly a world of cottage craftsmanship.

Archive.org has a backup of Kato's old website, which does not have much information the 1960s and 1970s, but does include this note about Electric Ball:

from the archived Kato website

Transcription:

1964年/創菜~
創業(昭和39年)時から、さまざまなゲーム機を開発し世に送り出してきましたが、最初の記念すべきヒット機は、2年目に発売した「エレキボール」でした。同機は、ほ(ぼ5000台を生産し販売いたしました。 

Machine translation:

Since our founding (1964), we have developed and released a variety of game machines, but our first memorable hit machine was the ``Electric Ball'' released in our second year. Approximately 5,000 units of this machine were produced and sold.

With this, I will be saying that Electric Ball is from 1965.

Electric Ball appears in the 1969 machine directory.

entry in 1969 machine directory

The above photo combines two source images, which I'll share in better resolution:

There are slight differences between these two editions of the game.   The backboard is larger in the colour version, and the cabinet art is different.  Based on Sonar Attack being present, the colour photo is probably 1968 or 1969 and the B&W photo shared in Amusement Journal is the original design.  The 1969 machine directory image matches the colour photo.  Until I learn more, I do not deem these differences significant enough to warrant a separate entry.

Electric Ball in an arcade lineup, from the Taito 40th Anniversary book.  Unknown year.

In the 1972 machine directory the game is listed as by Japan Vending Machine.

1972 machine directory

There is an entry for Japan Vending that lists Electric Game, perhaps they're referring to Electric Ball? 

Otherwise, electric ball does not appear in the company info there.  Likewise in the 1973 machine directory, Electric Ball is not listed amongst the company profiles.  We do see it in the index as by 日本自動販売機 (Japan Vending Machine).

1973 machine directory