Bowling at King-Pin Lanes (Funky Model A)

Vintage/retro bowling alley with zero oil on their lanes located in Fox River Grove, IL. They also have funky Model A pinsetters equipped with Golden Years masking units and ball returns! Even though I couldn't use my own bowling balls, and despite the bone dry lanes, I had a good time! Check this place out!
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Rates: $5 per game
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Pinsetters: Brunswick Model A's (With over-travel on 1st ball?)
Pins: Linds (non-glow)
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I do not claim ownership to any of the music in this video. All rights to proper owner(s).

[@user-ub1gm6jk7b]

It was called double outside ball return....I did bowl on that type in Hamtramck once or twice. Its weird you had to keep an eye on your ball and you'd have to walk over a few lanes to grab your ball. I was told by the old ones it was used because of all the posts and supports that held up a large bowling lanes ceiling way back in the day. I did see drawings of it in the Brunswick sales catalog.

[@PinDominator]

Interesting, I actually really like this design because of how spacious the approach is. But I assume it usually wasn't with the support beams and such

[@pomaika]

One thing I noticed at the beginning and end of the video is the high-pitched whining sound coming from the pinsetter. It reminds me of where my grandparents used to bowl until the mid 90's when it went out of business. It had the original Model A's that made the same sound, only it would sound like a constant hum when all 24 lanes were in use by a league. The sound is both nostalgic to hear yet annoying to be constantly enveloped by it for the entire 3 hours that you're there. The only difference with those pinsetters is that the sweep came down a split second before the table, but like the ones at King-Pin Lanes, they came down to clear the deck so quickly that a pin that might have fallen if given more time would stand little to no chance of falling before either being picked up or swept away.

[@industriastroll3177]

That sound is the turret clutch.

[@alexsanchez4970]

@@industriastroll3177kind of. It’s the short turret drive belt. Underneath the turret clutch.

[@keithchrysler3732]

1958 masking. Gold Crown series. The above ground ball return is a lot less troublesome. Take it from a retired mechanic!

[@PinDominator]

I bet, I hear stories about chasing bowling balls in the underground track. The only problem is oiling if the approaches are a step up, at least from what I've heard if the track isn't removable.

[@keithchrysler3732]

@@PinDominator I don't think it would interfere with a mechanical oiler. I like the "maple"! You don't see that much anymore!

[@Sean-mclaughlin]

This place is similar to Palmyra Bowling Center in Palmyra NY. The ball returns are that way because that's the way it was with pinboys before automatic pinsetters. The machines are Brunswick A from the late 1950's. Very historic.

[@nolakremmer5096]

This place is like time travel back to the 1950's! Thanks for sharing.

[@fazbearentertainmentinc6514]

The place is old and ancient but their minor problems, pinsetter issues and no mechanic to save your bowling balls, and dry oil pattern, everything else is crazy amazing

[@PinDominator]

It's a piece of preserved history, that's for sure!

[@fazbearentertainmentinc6514]

@@PinDominator A place in Morgan city, Louisiana, that you should see that has those machines, that you can watch while bowling with no masking units that I begging you to go see on a Saturday

[@JamesG-df2pz]

@@PinDominator do they ever oil the lanes, did you ever ask them and what do they do if a machine breaks down

[@fazbearentertainmentinc6514]

@@PinDominator the reason why the pinsetters act like that is because there one of the older models, like really old ones, on KZbin “Brunswick promotional film (1948) does the same thing as the “Funky Model A” does. These are the “REAL” Model A pinsetters

[@PinDominator]

@@fazbearentertainmentinc6514 I think I know which machine you're talking about. Interesting since those were never officially released

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

6:02 great timing for Mario Kart to kick in lol

[@charlesgoodman5086]

I have never bowled on model A Brunswick machines but plenty of A2s but very nostalgic nonetheless.

[@kleyabel3424]

I bowled for 2 seasons at kingpin…. I can tell you there’s a workshop behind lanes 1-4, so you can get to the back of those pinsetters. 5-8 are flush against the building foundation wall, so no a direct access to the back of those machines. Ball return on the far left side is for 1 & 2, 3&4 ball return is in the middle as is for 5 & 6. Ball return for 7 & 8 is on the far right of the area.

[@jasonmaki2343]

I work part-time at a church bowling alley in St Paul mn. Only six lanes, and they are back against the wall. No pit behind the machines.

[@dangerousdan4184]

There's 12 lanes of these machines in a bowling alley I used to maintain in DePere, Wisconsin, which is currently awaiting the bulldozer. The problems illustrated in this video are all relatively simple repairs. The problem is that nowadays, no one knows how to do anything besides poking at a "smart" phone.

[@dingusRealLife]

That machine sounds like it’s in pain lol. Never seen a model A do that!

[@NipkowDisk]

I remember the four-lane bowling alley in New Effington, South Dakota had the same ball return setup back when they had pinboys... it was way cool. Also, I have never seen a model 'A' pinsetter sweep behave like that on the first cycle, only the second. VERY strange indeed.

[@DrummerboysWashersAndMore]

Woah that’s funky! I’ve never seen 90 degree over travel on the first ball like that, I almost wonder if somethings messed up with the machine that’s causing it to act like that. Plus you can really hear that gearbox belt screaming back there! The machines definitely look a little worse for wear, but overall not a bad place. Nice video!

[@PinDominator]

These machines are definitely worn. You can hear screeching and squeaks in the axles. Not to mention the rake scraping the pindeck haha. I really should ask GBA about that 90 over travel on the 1st ball. It does illustrate how well built and engineered these tanks are all these years later!

[@brunswicka2]

Yes the machine is actually overtraveling on the first ball that is why the rake is late. The cam is not being blocked out correctly. Cool place, but the machines appear to need some help.

[@keithchrysler3732]

That is most likely the turret clutch. The more the machine runs, the louder it gets.

[@keithchrysler3732]

The machine obviously doesn't have 20 or 21 pins in it and on the strike, it remains in the 180 position until 10 pins are dumped into the lower deck. To slow down bowlers who are "speed bowling", and rushing the rake, I would remove up to 7 pins of the 21 and then the machine would stop at 180 (rake in the back position. I hope that helps you understand how it works.

[@DrummerboysWashersAndMore]

@@keithchrysler3732 They probably don’t run full sets of 21 pins in the machines because they don’t want to pay a whole ton of money to put enough pins in each machine. They probably buy like 10 or 15 cases when they last bought pins, and divided them up among the machines to save money.

[@ProdigyBowlersTour]

They're not "Golden Years" masking units. These are known as the single-lane Gold Crown masking units.

[@epacm50]

I was told those classic units were still active somewhere in upstate New York about a decade ago. Hope their still alive.

[@therandomytchannel4318]

Looks like the old Canadian 5 pin bowling version of the A51 setter, based off the A2 pinsetter, it operates in the exact same way 🎉

[@ilovetoysto1]

I am thinking there is part missing from the rake cam follower so the over travel shows on first and second ball. .Interesting. The pinsetter clearly needs oil can in many places.Also little lane oil too. The squeeking sound could be that the spring inside the rake springtube is broken the spring is rubbing the inside of the tube. I recall that sound when i had spring break on model A2 springtube.

[@riversarcadereview385]

Looks like the triangle display for the pins between 2 and 3 looks like it may have come from the "Bard Masking Units"---possibly from Marzano's Miami or Clearing Bowl from Chicago IL.

[@jasonl3686]

I think my motiv would maybe make it halfway down the lane before it would take a massive turn into the gutter. 😅

[@riversarcadereview385]

the curved shoe is out of adjustment causing the rake to not come down at the same time as the deck on first ball...also the rake pattern is way out of adjustment.

[@EddieAndElwood]

LISTEN CAREFULLY TO THE BACKGROUND SOUNDS 1:11

[@ilovetoysto1]

I think in to many cases at a small center the owner figures he or she can be the mechanic. But if he or she were smart they would hire a pinsetter maintenance company such as SBI to take care of his or her equipment it is well worth the $$$.After all the idea is to fix it before it breaks NOT after it breaks.

[@keithchrysler3732]

A lot of truth to that. The rake can be adjusted so it doesn't touch the pin deck, even if the pins and bushings are worn out. At its lowest point it should just rest on a 9/16s wrench standing on edge.

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

You are bowling on wood lanes with minimal oil. Even a plastic ball will be a hooking monster.

[@PinDominator]

Absolutely. I don't even think there was oil lol

[@douglasskaalrud6865]

@@PinDominator We have a bowling alley in Minneapolis that is more a dating place than anything. I went there once for the experience. Wood lanes, no finish, no oil. They got dust mopped and that’s it. I found the answer was to launch the ball halfway down the lane out to the five board. I managed a 215 before they asked me to leave because I was destroying their alley.

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

​@douglasskaalrud6865 was it Bryant lake bowl only old school place I know of.

[@epacm50]

I believe this is a 1959 "A" unit.

[@aydengianes2515]

The pinsetter looks like it's getting ready to fall apart

[@jonathansandy2192]

I mean is kinda great pinsetter and it's still working and i wish i see Brunswick a2 series is cool

[@PinDominator]

For a pinsetter that doesn't seem maintained, it worked great lol

[@jonathansandy2192]

​@@PinDominatorwe can see the setting table though even not going down, oh yeah can u post more about the mini bowling

[@DEADLOK69]

That pin would have stood up on that 2nd shot in the 10th. Physics.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

Geez that Rake is annoying, not because it came down late but the Rake Board height is so low that its literally rubbing the Pindeck

[@Itzcj123]

It’s a funky wink junky model a

[@Itzcj123]

Wunky ^

[@deafcalvin96]

That's a weird delay with the rake part. Is there other lanes that is operational or not?

[@SummerHaze29]

I’ve seen another video on this bowling alley taken on lane 8. It seems to work just like normal.

[@aC2do]

Did they update anything like the ball return masking unit or oil there lane yet?

[@PinDominator]

I have no idea. From the looks of it, everything looks original from the Golden Years. The obviously didn't have pinsetters yet when they opened in the 50s

[@industriastroll3177]

​@@PinDominator If they opened in the fifties I imagine they got these lanes second hand, because this ball return layout was starting to be phased out even in the forties.

[@JB-bs1se]

I would love to see how the ball returns actually work with the lay out the way it is.

[@PinDominator]

I've seen similar ball returns work from the back before on KZbin somewhere. I'm not sure if it's watchable, it may be private. I should try to record the back one day :)

[@industriastroll3177]

Garage Bowling Alley shows it in a video in Dickey's Lanes.

[@brunsdangerzone]

​@@industriastroll3177 Thank you!

[@alynhampton]

I would like to buy a pinsetter

[@InsaneKorean77]

6:07 What’s up with the Super Mario 64 music suddenly coming on? And the Mario Kart Wii sounds earlier?

[@PinDominator]

My mom was watching reels on Facebook lol

[@CaptianNamco]

Wow weird Brunswick model A setter

[@Funnade]

Quick question how does lane 2 and 3 ball return work?

[@PinDominator]

Lane 2 shares with lane 1. Lane 3 shares with 4. The ball return tracks are placed out differently

[@Funnade]

@@PinDominator ok thanks

[@Pyry300]

Those machines aren't getting the love they need and derserve. Messed up overtravel and messed up rake movement.

[@jasonmaki2343]

Have you checked out any bowling alleys in Minnesota?

[@maxrshelltrack7443]

Bryant lake bowl in Minneapolis is an old school alley with eight lanes.

[@JRBowling1997]

So you can't bowl on lane 2? Because there's no open ball return?

[@PinDominator]

I could have. Lane 2 shares the same ball return as lane 1. It's interesting to see a center where the ball return for a pair is on the side.

[@keithchrysler3732]

They come back on the same return as lane 1

[@JRBowling1997]

@@keithchrysler3732 o wow

[@aC2do]

I’m just wondering why the sweeper stays there for like 10 seconds

[@fredh.1255]

Probably because there is not enough pins in the machine. It needs a pin or two from the previous frame.

[@keithchrysler3732]

Lack of pins. The machine waits in the 180 position until pins drop from the turret to the lower deck. It should have 20 to 21 pins in it. The lane owner either doesn't have enough pins or he's purposely shorting the machine and charging bowlers by the hour.

[@magictravbowler4223]

No oil

[@kodyklm]

did bowlero buy this alley? 🤣

[@PinDominator]

Lol this place is cooler than Bowlero. But Bowlero would take better care of it

[@bmhedgehog2]

I'm surprised that this place is still USBC Certified.

[@geralddolan8386]

Why would you think that?

[@Sheila-dt6cp]

Hey

[@marryandreotti5077]

ᵖʳᵒᵐᵒˢᵐ

[@princess4u62]

That is very weird and that place is old

[@keithchrysler3732]

It's a classic! 1958 masking!

[@dp92492]

Sad that they ran this place to crap. Could be a nice time capsule, but its been in disrepair for so long. McHenry county sandbaggers (people who want a low average for handicap tournaments) bowl league here, or used too anyway.

[@dp92492]

And trust me, you don't want to use your equipment here. Literally this place is fallen apart. Sad.

[@ryanheaton1067]

It sucks that you can't use your own balls at a bowling center but I HATE BONE DRY LANES YOU CAN'T GET ENOUGH TRACKSON. And the Lends pins are ok. But they sound terrible when knocked down. And you had the center to yourself again lol

[@PinDominator]

You kidding? Linds pins sound awesome! I don't like bone dry lanes either, I basically attempted to throw fast balls straight up the pocket. With all the friction, my reactive would probably ramp the gutter and nail the wall lol

[@ryanheaton1067]

@@PinDominator Yeah But that's my opinion you respect it right?

[@PinDominator]

@@ryanheaton1067 of course, we all like different things.

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

@@PinDominator If you use your own balls at this place, you have no chance to Strike. This isn't like the wonderful House.

[@keithchrysler3732]

We got new pins (finally) and they sound dead. The other thing is that they are coming delamininated which leaves chunks of finish in the machines! Cleaning is an everyday thing at that point. The new pins are junk and very very expensive!

[@chuckfinley771]

Quit moving the camera so much

[@PinDominator]

No, I don't think I will

[@KC9UDX]

Workers not allowed back there 🫤

[@PinDominator]

Yup

[@mxslick50]

Most likely because they are not trained or qualified to work on the pinsetters. I got a chance to work on some A2's many years ago, and despite my background in mechanics and electrics, they were very intimidating to work on. One wrong move and you will lose limbs or get crushed to death. Worst of all, it was a former AMF lane setup converted to Brunswick, and the ball accelerator was AMFs, with a belt that could only be adjusted while running....while straddling it between one of two running pinsetters! (Yes I know the book describes a power off adjustment procedure, but the mechanic who had worked there for over 20 years said the manual's procedure rarely if ever worked.)