Anyone know anything about "northwest bowl" in Chicago? They have the inline surface returns and the gold crown masking units. Any guess as to the pinsetters A or A2? Any idea where to get parts for the pinsetters or the old seats?
Up here in Canada, there are alot of 5-pin centers that use the same Brunswick Gold Crown series mask units and the surface ball returns, just search under 5-pin canada, and you'll see the surface returns. In Edmonton, Ab, Canada, there used to be a bowling center underground that ran the same stuff shown in this video. It was called the West End Bowl. I think it was running 16 lanes of 10-pin.
i remember it well...i learned with a trainer bowling in the mid seventies in germany when i was eight years old on such a brunswick-bowling-alley in white and blue...real good times of bowling.
how many bowling center still have surface ball returns (not under the lane returns), and that is the ball going all the way across from the back (where the pins are) to the approach (no going under the foul line to the ball return. the full roll on the surface)
The Brunswick A series pinsetters were probably the best pinsetters ever produced. Many of them are still in use. I have a bowling center not far from where I live that has Brunswick "Jetback" pinsetters which were basically upgraded "A"s. The pinsetters still work fine to this day. I wish that they never changed the masking units though. They used the single units in an alternating color scheme. which was green and gold. The bowling I'm referring to is Homefield Bowl in Yonkers, New York.
One center in Dallas, not the one I worked, had the double sized masking units in gold. Really neat to see. Omaha - Hill top lanes still has 1950's Brunswick masking units.
@zappatx Kelley's Hilltop in Omaha, Ne is the Hiltop bowling center that I was referring to. AMF equipped with streamlane 21 masking units and 82-70's as well as sure pick mod 3 ball returns.
I however, was always partial to AMF. These Brunswick machines were and (With the GSX) remain WAY too complex for their own good. I always felt that the AMF 82/70 was a brilliant, streamlined design.
This is a great video. I hate the way bowling centers are today compared these 1950's-60's bowling alleys. Everything was built better quality and the "modern" syling from that era is so neat. I try to avoid computerized lanes as it takes the fun out of the game. manual scoring at a vintage unrestored bowling alley is more fun. there are a few old manual scoring alleys in chicago area yet. Today you cant get most kids to bowl unless its cosmic bowling which is biggest insult to the game.
The pinsetter shown in this video is the Brunswick Model A, not A-2's. The A and A-2 share about 75% of the same parts. The model A was produced from 1956-1962 and is still considered by many to be the most durable pinsetting machine ever built. The A-2s were produced from 1962-1986. The A-2 pinsetter is a excellent machine and is still the most widely used pinsetter in the world. Many model A machines have been field converted to A-2's. A & A-2 ball wheels run at the same speed.
no kickers because the Model A ball wheel runs slower and there was probably 1/5th the amount of oil applied on the lanes as there is today with resin bowling balls.
well man, i bowled at a both GSX and a A2 center, and the A2 was slighty faster, huh , lol the A2, just resests a new set, while the GSX looks for pins after a strike? lol and then says ok, dude's got a strike, new set! LOL
Well there are centers out there that have no kickers and have next to no ball calls. I'm only 19 and i know a TON about Brunswick Model As. The center here used to have Brunswick As until they decided to take them out last summer and replace them with AMF 82-70s. A HUGE mistake, i cant count how many problems i have had. With the As I had 5 problems with them. The only modification done to them was the removal of the 90-degree overtravel.
@Sharkie626 Hi, I've only seen A, A2 and Jetback in these vids. Questions: Do all 3 have 1 hp motors? If the ball lift is the same speed on all 3 machines, is the a2/jetback change a larger gearbox drive pulley at the motor to speed up only the gearbox, I'm guessing..30%? If the main 'brain' cams dont fully rotate after the first ball, how do they return to topdeadcenter after a strike? Do all 3 models use one 1/4 hp 1140 rpm, ball accelerator, per pair of lanes? Thanks Sharkie!!!!!
Anyone know anything about "northwest bowl" in Chicago? They have the inline surface returns and the gold crown masking units. Any guess as to the pinsetters A or A2? Any idea where to get parts for the pinsetters or the old seats?
TheSmileyPeace 10 months ago
Up here in Canada, there are alot of 5-pin centers that use the same Brunswick Gold Crown series mask units and the surface ball returns, just search under 5-pin canada, and you'll see the surface returns. In Edmonton, Ab, Canada, there used to be a bowling center underground that ran the same stuff shown in this video. It was called the West End Bowl. I think it was running 16 lanes of 10-pin.
EdmDude 1 year ago
those fiberglass seats were very uncomfortable.
eitremn 1 year ago
wow no kicker on the ball wheel
shelllanes 1 year ago
i remember it well...i learned with a trainer bowling in the mid seventies in germany when i was eight years old on such a brunswick-bowling-alley in white and blue...real good times of bowling.
fickfroeschlein 1 year ago
how many bowling center still have surface ball returns (not under the lane returns), and that is the ball going all the way across from the back (where the pins are) to the approach (no going under the foul line to the ball return. the full roll on the surface)
cwf1701 2 years ago
@cwf1701
I always like the surface ball returns, I enjoyed watching the ball coming back to you when I was a child.
There is a bowling alley near my house that still has this. It's on a second floor, witch may be the reason they use it.
jamesffxl 1 year ago
The Brunswick A series pinsetters were probably the best pinsetters ever produced. Many of them are still in use. I have a bowling center not far from where I live that has Brunswick "Jetback" pinsetters which were basically upgraded "A"s. The pinsetters still work fine to this day. I wish that they never changed the masking units though. They used the single units in an alternating color scheme. which was green and gold. The bowling I'm referring to is Homefield Bowl in Yonkers, New York.
alterman156 2 years ago
One center in Dallas, not the one I worked, had the double sized masking units in gold. Really neat to see. Omaha - Hill top lanes still has 1950's Brunswick masking units.
zappatx 2 years ago
Actually Hilltop Lanes in Omaha actually has A.M.F Streamlane 21 Masking Units not the Brunswick Gold crown masking units
stinger19er 1 year ago
@stinger19er Sorry, I meant Kelley's Hilltop. Not Hilltop in Florence.
zappatx 1 year ago
@zappatx Kelley's Hilltop in Omaha, Ne is the Hiltop bowling center that I was referring to. AMF equipped with streamlane 21 masking units and 82-70's as well as sure pick mod 3 ball returns.
stinger19er 1 year ago
flashback
scrabbleking1965 3 years ago
so beautiful
19Raptor87 3 years ago
awesome
rpmouw 3 years ago
Cool. I bowled in some places with 8230s.
I found out that the spot and respot they are the "wobbly" pinsetting pinspotter, lol
(I was guessing the machine needed adjustment)
EdmDude 3 years ago
5:05 that used to look like my old bowling centre. It closed in 2006. all that was changed is we had the automatic Brunswick scoring computers.
EdmDude 3 years ago
How did those 2 doors just stand up there on their own??
Hawqis1 3 years ago
Sweet! god those "A" machines looked awesome brand new!
spinnins 3 years ago
Great short film ! (It's NOT a video guys)
I however, was always partial to AMF. These Brunswick machines were and (With the GSX) remain WAY too complex for their own good. I always felt that the AMF 82/70 was a brilliant, streamlined design.
vittoriostoraro 3 years ago
Thanks again for the great post!
16joesmoe 3 years ago
This is a great video. I hate the way bowling centers are today compared these 1950's-60's bowling alleys. Everything was built better quality and the "modern" syling from that era is so neat. I try to avoid computerized lanes as it takes the fun out of the game. manual scoring at a vintage unrestored bowling alley is more fun. there are a few old manual scoring alleys in chicago area yet. Today you cant get most kids to bowl unless its cosmic bowling which is biggest insult to the game.
drh4683 4 years ago 2
The pinsetter shown in this video is the Brunswick Model A, not A-2's. The A and A-2 share about 75% of the same parts. The model A was produced from 1956-1962 and is still considered by many to be the most durable pinsetting machine ever built. The A-2s were produced from 1962-1986. The A-2 pinsetter is a excellent machine and is still the most widely used pinsetter in the world. Many model A machines have been field converted to A-2's. A & A-2 ball wheels run at the same speed.
danimonkey95 4 years ago
but the a2 runs faster wicth means more breakdowns lol :)
HGJYBRANDON 3 years ago
ols skool!
yourmiv82 4 years ago
no kickers because the Model A ball wheel runs slower and there was probably 1/5th the amount of oil applied on the lanes as there is today with resin bowling balls.
Jamison42166 4 years ago
The kid is a trend setter, he is COMBINING bowling and baseball. Slide boy SLIIIIDE!!
Zoomer30 4 years ago
Damn, I bowl in a house that still has this equipment. Minisink Lanes. Port Jervis, NY
crony022 4 years ago
Later I will post the Vs , Vs video on here, and you'll see, the A2 is faster than the GSX, unless tehy got it slowed down for some reason ...
EdmDude 4 years ago
well man, i bowled at a both GSX and a A2 center, and the A2 was slighty faster, huh , lol the A2, just resests a new set, while the GSX looks for pins after a strike? lol and then says ok, dude's got a strike, new set! LOL
EdmDude 4 years ago
They have an newer model its just not an A-2, its the GSX.
Toomany10pins 4 years ago
Why don't they just make an updated A2 model, you know with todays electronics and computing power.. hehe
EdmDude 4 years ago
exzactly im 13 and i have a diragram for a a3 pinsetter
HGJYBRANDON 3 years ago
Well there are centers out there that have no kickers and have next to no ball calls. I'm only 19 and i know a TON about Brunswick Model As. The center here used to have Brunswick As until they decided to take them out last summer and replace them with AMF 82-70s. A HUGE mistake, i cant count how many problems i have had. With the As I had 5 problems with them. The only modification done to them was the removal of the 90-degree overtravel.
Sharkie626 4 years ago
wats kickers?
HGJYBRANDON 3 years ago
Kickers are strips of rubber, carpet, or cork that are glued to the ball wheel to help move the ball to the lift rods ;)
Sharkie626 3 years ago
@Sharkie626 Hi, I've only seen A, A2 and Jetback in these vids. Questions: Do all 3 have 1 hp motors? If the ball lift is the same speed on all 3 machines, is the a2/jetback change a larger gearbox drive pulley at the motor to speed up only the gearbox, I'm guessing..30%? If the main 'brain' cams dont fully rotate after the first ball, how do they return to topdeadcenter after a strike? Do all 3 models use one 1/4 hp 1140 rpm, ball accelerator, per pair of lanes? Thanks Sharkie!!!!!
Bill25cycle 1 year ago
@Bill25cycle Hmm, I think they have the same motor, i'm not sure about all the pulley's but I do think the motor pulley size is the main change.
Sharkie626 1 year ago
It's amazing to see that ballwheel work really well with no kickers.
Sharkie626 4 years ago