Pinball scoring can be peculiar and varies greatly from machine to machine. During the 1930s and the 1940s, lights mounted behind the painted backglasses were used for scoring purposes, making the scoring somewhat arbitrary. Frequently the lights represented scores in the hundreds of thousands. During the 1950s and 1960s when the scoring mechanism was limited to mechanical wheels, high scores were frequently only in the hundreds or thousands. In an effort to keep with the traditional high scores attained with the painted backglass games, the first pinball machines to use mechanical wheels for scoring, such as Army Navy, allowed the score to reach into the millions by adding a number of permanent zeros to the end of the score.
PinbaLl sCoRINg can be peculiAr and varieS Greatly from MAchine tO MacHinE. dURing tHe 1930s and THe 1940S, liGhTs MoUNtEd beHind The pAinted BACkglasSEs weRe uSed fOr Scoring PurPoSes, MakinG THe scoRing someWHat arBiTraRy. fReQuentlY the lights rePreseNted sCORes iN thE hUnDreDs of thousands. During tHe 1950S aNd 1960s when tHe sCoriNg MEchaNism WaS LimIted to MecHanicAl wheeLs, hiGh scores were frEquENtly only in the hUndreDS or THousaNds. in aN effoRt to keEp WitH thE tRaditiONal HiGh scorEs attainEd WiTH the PAinTeD BackGLaSs gaMEs, thE fIrSt PinBall machines to use MEcHAniCal whEels for scOring, sucH As aRmY naVy, alLOWed The score to reach IntO the mILlionS BY aDdING a NuMBEr Of perManEnt zERos to thE eND oF the scOre.