The Basketball Champ arcade machine was manufactured in 1947 by the Chicago Coin Machine Company in the United States. Founded in 1931, the company was one of the most important producers of coin-operated gaming machines of its time and brought over 450 different models to market – including classics such as Super Score, Goalee, and Yanks. 

Basketball Champ is a prime example of the technical sophistication of the late 1940s. Two metal figures face off on the court: the defender moves automatically via a mechanical gear system, while the player controls the attacker. The goal is to throw the ball into the basket at the right moment – a simple but surprisingly captivating mechanism. 

The steady whirring of the motors and the rhythmic clicking of the mechanics give the game an almost meditative quality. Basketball Champ is reminiscent of a time when craftsmanship, technology, and entertainment merged into a new cultural expression – a piece of gaming history from the pioneering days of arcade machines.