How does a Bowling Pinsetter Machine work? (Brunswick GS-X)

[@blerst7066]

When I was a kid, I once asked one of the workers in the bowling center about how the pinsetters work. The man grabbed my hand, led me to the back of the pinsetters, and kindly explained how it all works. I never expected him to answer such a random question from a random kid so kindly. However, that when I was little so I forgot most of what he said. That's why I'm glad Jared made this video. It felt pleasant to review what I learned that day, and also remember that kind man.

[@chaomatic5328]

These are the kind of people that make sure we have nice things in life :)

[@breestakebobba2318]

Idk about you but i would be scared out of my mind when i get lead to the back of the pinsetters alone

[@wolfdale_3m]

@@breestakebobba2318 imagine just standing at the back just before lane-start hour and the siren sounds and the thing just suddenly clicks and winds up getting all the motors up to speed.

[@Guigui_82]

Nowadays a guy leading a kid in a back room would be sued by parents. You were lucky this guy was not a psycho.

[@noahb717]

I've noticed that there are some people who just love to explain what something is, but people don't ask them. And it means more to them if a kid asks because they were once a kid and in wonder of how something worked.

[@RayyannAlqadry]

This may be one of the most complex piece of machinery Jared has broken down and explained. The videos just keep getting better

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Rayyann - I'm trying to keep things interesting!

[@pandagameschannel]

@@JaredOwen this video is amazing but I feel the iss is more complex lol

[@RanjithKumar-jd4vz]

@@JaredOwen so the pin detector plate tells the setting table whether to activate the spotting tongue or to release that tiny latch right? If so why you haven't mentioned that? Even it was not a strike how to set all ten pins if I want to start again? So far I have not seen bowling in person so I don't know much about that but for me it's better to know the mechanism rather than knowing bowling ✌️

[@athrowaway3487]

@Kieran Nemeth * Laughs on the ENTIRE SATURN V AND CSML ASSEMBLY*

[@lalithkishore985]

@Jared owen ..can I know how are you doing 3d animations like this..just say your answer in a sentance

[@john20326]

As a league bowler that actually seen one of these in action, and studied how these things worked for years, there wasn't a single detail you missed, I'm absolutely impressed. well done!.

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks!

[@jodybingo]

there was a detail he did miss and it is pushing me to look it up - out of range pins. It seems odd, to me, that a pinsetter would use switches in the deck to count pins. Usually cameras are used and they can detect out of range pins. This set up would not record a single pin during an out of range. I'm gonna have to look this one up now (p.s. I am a league bowler, a mechanic for A1 and A2 pinsetters)

[@john20326]

@@jodybingo I was wondering that too. Usually, on most pin setters, if there is an out of range pin, and the pin setter cannot go all the way down, the machine’s onboard computer skips the sweep phase, go to second ball, and raises the pinsetter and sweep. The process of that happening, I’m not sure.

[@jodybingo]

@@john20326 on the A1 and A2 machines there is no onboard computer. The machine detects that the deck has stopped due to an out of range pin and the mechanic/pinchaser has to intervene (remove deadwood then pull a lever which prevents the rake from sweeping. In the case of the machine being showed in this video I don’t think it would use switches under the table as an out of range would force the bowlers to manually enter the pinfall. Cameras count the remaining pins whether there is an OOR or not.

[@mr.k5550]

@@jodybingo ok genius

[@Loch_Ness_Lachster]

I honestly don’t know what to say…. I mean, this has got to be one of the most innovative and most complex piece of machinery I ever seen, especially for a game

[@SuperDouginator]

Haha things get wayyy more complex

[@jasonmurawski5877]

Look up technology connections and watch some of his videos on pinball machines, if you think this is complicated

[@TonyP9279]

It's amazing to watch, especially back in the pre-micro-controller days, when there were switches, feelers, relays and solenoids everywhere!

[@theblah12]

Yeah, you think this is complicated look at electromechanical pinball machines. Technology Connections has a great video series tearing down a real life one and it’s crazy how much they were able to achieve with analog technology. Just thousands of solonoids, switches, resistors and a rats nest of wires to do things you would assume would only be possible with a computer.

[@TonyP9279]

@@theblah12 I saw that video! He also did one on an old jukebox that was interesting.

[@chasegeer9295]

I work as a technician at a bowling alley fixing these lanes when they break down. You did a great job at going into detail on every part. I’m going to use this to train future techs. Thank you!

[@tekk8428]

How many of these machines does your house have?

[@chasegeer9295]

@@tekk8428 We have 40

[@tekk8428]

@@chasegeer9295 Oh wow! Have you guys upgraded from the Consolidated electronics? That's been my #1 struggle is finding replacement components (mainly voltage regulators). Last I checked, Brunswick wanted $13,000/lane pair to upgrade. 😂

[@chasegeer9295]

@@tekk8428 No we haven’t. It’s very expensive haha

[@doapin6240]

Pretty cool

[@MrJewelyn]

as a 3D engineer, I want to note the massive size of the work on creating a model for the video, my respect

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Jewelyn - this was definitely a lot of work!

[@jakegreene5382]

BIG TIME!! I think the 3D was harder than designing the pinsetter!

[@leecambsuk2871]

Watching this I thought it was straight out of Brunswick R&D and I have repaired hundreds of Brunswick control boxes.

[@Manfacesigma]

Wow

[@alexandrep4913]

Do you mean a 3D modeler? Unless you're doing mathematics to make your models, you probably should stop calling yourself an engineer. Otherwise, carry on.

[@mattrittman]

Wow, what an incredible amount of detail Jared! I don't know how you do it man. This was very entertaining to watch :) Seriously, hats off to you sir.

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Matt - I always appreciate the kind words😀

[@sajibsarkar]

@@JaredOwen can you make how the roller coaster chain lift works please

[@HarnaiDigital]

Hey Matt Ritman sir.🤩 I love you.

[@HarnaiDigital]

Matt is King of Textures, and Shading.

[@sam-by6sq]

@@JaredOwen can you explain how a printer works? I want to know why mine always asks for cyan when I only need to use black

[@jakegreene5382]

I was a Brunswick A-2 mechanic from the 1970's. This is the first in depth explanation of the GS-X since their beginning in the early 2000s. We don't have any centers with these machines but I did bowl in a Zone that had them 15 years ago but the center closed back in 2013. Very good explanation of the operation. I do know they were based in part to the AMF 82-70 if I remember correctly. Fascinating machine!

[@TheMintyRider]

82-70’s, we still use them, some different terms used tho, we use a pin wheel, pit, ball lift ect

[@riegelvega.8880]

Doesn't care how much time to finish the video When i saw Jared Owen, i click it

[@chelsheet]

Me too

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Riegel!

[@maryrxrsimpson5726]

Same

[@boeing747-8]

Click.

[@oksomkar3107]

@@JaredOwen i waiting for this video.

[@johnelliottart]

Oh my god as an animator I can appreciate the amount of work this was. I just stumbled upon this channel because of my interest in machinery. But I also create animations showing how medical equipment works for a living. This would’ve taken me 3 weeks minimum as a full time job. I would never have had the drive to do it as a KZbin channel.

[@gamer0unreleased]

Man I’d love to see some medical animations if any of them are publicly releasable!

[@IFGchannel931]

I don't even know what I appreciate more... The creative engineering behind this mechanism, or you patience and skill in modeling, animating and explaining all of it.

[@markfryer9880]

That is a very tough one to call but I think that Jared might just come away with the win.

[@Unknown_Ooh]

Thank you to the maintenance guys who work at bowling alleys. They are the unsung heroes of the game working to keep this machinery running.

[@richgreenwood7343]

funny story. Back in the 80's I was working on a Friday night when a machine broke. I went back to look at it, and it was a cast metal part that had broken that held the pins setter in position, and it couldn't work without it. Of course we didn't have a replacement part in house because this part never broke, so I ran back up front and looked at what I could use. Of course we have lots of shoe laces for bowling shoes, so I grabbed a bunch and went back and wrapped them tightly around the cast part to hold it together, and it worked! We couldn't get repair people in till Monday, and when they saw it, they said the part would have to be ordered, and it would take a week of more to get it. I asked what we should do till then? They said "go buy more shoe laces!!" It ran like that for over 2 weeks before it could be replaced properly. I used to refer to this time as when "we running on a shoe string!!"

[@brandoncastro6731]

@@richgreenwood7343 Hey it’s only dumb if it didn’t work! You did what you had to to keep it running, that’s so awesome!

[@JMetal98]

For sure. I hadnt really thought about there being any other way at a normal bowling alley until I went to one with a string pinsetter. Gotta say, i dont like it nearly as much as this type which ive seen virtually everywhere else i have ever bowled. The strings sometimes clothesline a pin that shouldnt of fallen lol. We called it a string spare. It also often awards a strike for 9 pins if the 10th got wobbled pretty good (must pull on string enough to make it think it fell). Where I was going with that is, im sure the string one is a lot more maintenance free then this!

[@samcornock7711]

I appreciate it 😁

[@Akumaten1]

Lol, I appreciate it. Been bowling mechanic for 7 years.

[@casualwoomy]

I never truly realized how damn complicated these machines were until today

[@PinoyBowlerGS92]

Oh it gets even better girl cause I’m squid kid works on GSX Pinsetters 😏

[@hunterthedinosaur23]

Everyone was like. This can’t be complicated. Now everyone is like. How complicated can this be

[@tonyfalco760]

It gets even more complicated with all the switches solenoid and wires! But this video is really awesome!

[@TinkeringJohn]

I would love to see Jared do an animation of the Brunswich A2 pinsetter.

[@DavesRestoration454]

@@TinkeringJohn A2 is much simpler than this piece of garbage..

[@Mochrie99]

When I went bowling as a kid, the idea of how the pins got reset always fascinated me. I had never seen the inner workings and it felt like some great mystery. I had always assumed that the pinsetter machine was complicated. I just had no idea it was THAT complicated. Thanks for enlightening the 10-year old in me. :)

[@savannahoneil-pindar4207]

It really is hard to believe that somebody thought that all up.

[@mattspectre3346]

I actually ended up working on these machines and there is a lot going on, but these are some of the simplest machines to work on. Go back even 1 generation and they get much more complicated and dangerous.

[@BranchEducation]

What a great video! This is definitely one of my favorites thus far because it goes over such a complex assortment of mechanisms!! Keep up the great work!

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Teddy!

[@tfr]

Thanks Teddy!

[@divyadarshan9710]

Thanks Teddy!

[@Someone-sq8im]

Thanks Teddy!

[@Turquoise-Official]

Thanks Teddy!

[@neoamaru]

it is just mind-blowing, how purely mechanical the entire process is! no A.I. involved, not a single laser or microchip in sight! Kudos to those brilliant minds/outside the box thinkers and engineers that sat down and thought of all that! (& Thank you Jared for explaining it all so well!)

[@TheAozzi]

Well, there are lasers in ball detectors

[@bread9276]

​@@TheAozzishhhhhh

[@eechee2979]

There's actually quite a lot of this machine that relies on a computer. Every sensor, solenoid, and switch.

[@3rdalbum]

​@@eechee2979 These days, yes I imagine they are computerized. However there is nothing inherently requiring a "computer" as such - a few decades ago it would have been electro-mechanical using a ton of relays and hardwired logic.

[@eechee2979]

@@3rdalbum I'm just nit-picking now but anything with a circuit board that has a processor (and relevant software to program said processor) is a computer. It isn't shown in this 3D model but connected to the front of the machine is a box with one such circuit board inside. From there, you can program different features and functions of the GSX pinsetter machine. Without this computer, the machine would not function.

[@AustenFerdinand]

Now i know it was that complicated, thanks jared

[@DarthVader-2737]

bro how are you not verified

[@kirbyspencer538]

This is the 'new' style, the ones I worked on back in the late '70s were a bit more complicated and much more finicky to tune up properly.

[@TopTechSavvy]

@@eseopu sheeeeesh

[@TopTechSavvy]

@@eseopu no need to be mad kid

[@eseopu]

@@TopTechSavvy haha

[@tristantecson6528]

Guys don't even think why he took so long to upload, because of animating.

[@AluminumOxide]

Quality over quantity dictates

[@tristantecson6528]

@Opecuted true, but most of all, animating takes longer than research

[@sylvesylvester8501]

Dude I think of it

[@RandomFBIguy]

I don’t care if this man takes 5 months to upload, all I gotta say is everyone here at the office watches these on the big screen.

[@glaucomflecken]

Are you like a new version of OwO? Are you a professional commenter?

[@JaredOwen]

Oh dang - should I be scared if the FBI is watching my videos?😋

[@lenadams854]

@@JaredOwen please do hl2 combine city scanner by looking at the city scanner drone videos.

[@jaredikin455]

@@JaredOwen you did explain the inner workings of an abrams tank, so perhaps

[@tristantecson6528]

Don't arrest pls

[@leebarker539]

Your narrative is top tier. No obscure terminology, no talking down to us, just carefully crafted sentences which, with the superb graphics, make this a video in a class by itself. Thank you for all the work (which I don't understand) that occurs on the front end. I am in awe.

[@matthewholzner9526]

How the Saturn V Rocket (the most powerful machine ever made) Works: 3 min How a Bowling Pinsetter works: 15 min

[@oldweeb1066]

When I was in my early 20s, I was actually a pinsetter 'mechanic' that worked in the back of a bowling alley in California. I really loved that job.

[@mmmMatto]

I was a pin monkey in my 20s. We had the old A2 pinsetters from the 60s. It's like owning an old car. Constant maintenance that never, ever ends.

[@Okie_Azera]

​@mmmMatto the gsx is no different lol. We are constantly replacing pin holders or adjusting spotting tongs.

[@anastasiagoold4975]

I love how everything is done in such a simple, efficient way. I would never expect something like this to be so elegant. What a cool machine

[@Tmanaz480]

Obviously the bulk of your work is visual, but can I take a moment to appreciate your excellent audio? The writing, narration, mix and balance are perfect. You obviously put as much effort into the soundtrack as you do the picture. Well done.

[@MadDogHoek23]

Wow, today marks two months for me at my new job which is a bowling alley with these exact machines and this animation is spot on! It’s helping me understand a few things I didn’t know and it’s giving me all the correct names of the parts, so I find this video extremely helpful and I appreciate! I’ll be rewatching this a few more times. Thank you for this!

[@bjsmith4598]

How’s the job going? Thinking of applying as a senior technician for a bowling alley here.

[@samcornock7711]

​@@bjsmith4598it's so much fun and very rewarding!!

[@srajit6814]

With so much patience and detail this guy understands everything clearly . I am his fan .

[@JaredOwen]

😁

[@srajit6814]

@@JaredOwen Jared dude I love you videos ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@lukec.7305]

Jared. I’m aiming to get a Master’s in Mechanical Engineering. Stuff like this has fascinated me even since I was really young. You’re giving me a beautifully presented outlet to learn how stuff works. Keep it up!

[@puzzLEGO]

same

[@John-yg2rt]

Keep working hard man I hope it pays off

[@thewitt2890]

About 55 years ago i was a Brunswick pinsetter mechanic. The pinsetter had one motor and a transmission to operate the whole machine. Watching this well done animation of the Brunswick machine of today, with 3 motors, many more belts and switches, I have to believe the machine is high maintenance.

[@tedoydislake]

Many years ago I worked at a bowling alley complex that had Brunswick technology, but I never had access to its robotics. It really is wonderful. Amazing job, Mr. Owen. Thank you.

[@SmokeFlame1]

This is almost as complicated as rocket science. The designers were either geniuses or insane. Maybe both.

[@мухитниязбаев-д1ъ]

automated gear shift much more complicated

[@loganstudios7729]

Insane geniuses?

[@mikesdogs6275]

@@loganstudios7729 aka Sheldon Cooper. 😅

[@houstonhelicoptertours1006]

"this is almost as complicated as rocket science" Hahaha...no.

[@JSchaffer214]

@@houstonhelicoptertours1006 Do you not understand hyperbole when you hear it?

[@Brindlebrother]

What's more amazing is that this contraption, like any other, is just a combination of the six simple machines they teach you in first grade. Never skip first grade.

[@pumpster999]

As co-founder of the Peralta Patriots JHS Bowling Club in 1972, Orange, CA, I hereby declare that this is the greatest video in the history of KZbin! Back then we were all fascinated with the behind the scenes tour, and you have truly rejuvenated that thrill 50 years later. Thank you.

[@scratchy523]

Pinsetter machines have always fascinated me. I've always wanted to walk up the lane to see what's going on, but obviously I can't do that. But now I get an even better view in this video! Thanks Jared!

[@matt_artistry]

Next time you're in a bowling center you can just ask an employee if they are able to show the machines. We always did that when I was working on the lanes as a mechanic. And if there was a kids birthday the whole group got a little guided tour behind the machines. In my opinion every center should do that. It's the easiest way to get children into engeneering...

[@calebbenedict5587]

There’s a bowling alley near me where the entrance is behind the lanes and there’s a big window that faces out over the back of the pinsetters. It’s really cool to see.

[@shiny4984]

2 reasons 1: you need to be a professional to get there 2: if you got to close they would kill you

[@bcsroberson]

Yeah I work at a bowling alley and they won’t let anyone back there unless your 18+

[@mrb43605]

Ask any proprietor....they will GLADLY let you.

[@dannylu6230]

It is not just a machine...it’s a piece of art.

[@Nitrous_Syrup]

The legend himself posted another masterpiece

[@supernoxa]

Yes

[@mrthechicken102]

Yes

[@kosh950]

yes

[@oldcowbb]

yes

[@Steve_K2]

I had a part-time job in an 8-lane bowling alley in the mid-1970s, passing out shoes, clearing jams, etc. One evening I was almost killed when I crawled under the setting table without turning off the machine ... and the table suddenly started to drop toward the floor. I flicked my finger out for the switch. I had one chance to find it, and somehow did. Great illustrating, Jared. My deepest admiration.

[@JayVBear45]

Grew up getting to know some of how this machinery worked. In the late 50s/early 60s my dad was a design engineer for AMF and worked on the team that created the first electromechanical pin spotters as well as ball tester/strike machines, he also designed a lot of the lanes for many bowling alleys in the Midwest.

[@odinharou7112]

Imagine breaking down one of these machines to someone from the past, they ask "What does this wondrous machine do? It's so complicated!" And you're just there like "It resets bowling pins"

[@Pippy1]

"What is my purpose? To reset bowling pins."

[@Nitram4392]

"Oh my God."

[@tristantecson6528]

This guy made me understand more than in school.

[@idot3331]

You were taught the mechanics of bowling pinsetter machines in school?

[@SwedishNeo]

I especially like the fact that there are so little electronics involved, and instead it relies on genius and inventive mechanics that are much more reliable.

[@LarryButler-kp3se]

Before computers, AMF machines were controlled by racks of relays. Cleaning relay contacts was key to good running.

[@hazza2247]

Ur animations are flawless and so easy to understand and your voice is soothing

[@MrAwesomedude808]

As the grandson of Brunswick’s former CEO (who retired in ‘95 and is sadly no longer on this earth), I would like to say your animation is incredible. My grandpa would be proud of you making this.

[@Squid-Game]

Wow! Is there a way to transfer a video through a Ouija board?

[@krozareq]

@@Squid-Game Only in binary.

[@AndyHappyGuy]

I’m not sure if you’re telling the truth. Just look at your channel!

[@MrAwesomedude808]

@@AndyHappyGuy He met his wife at GE, they married in 1952, had a daughter 10 years later, adopted a son, and moved from Wisconsin to Illinois in the 70s. He and his wife were married for 52 years before he passed away at age 73 in may 2004. His wife died at age 93 in august of this year. Jack Reichert was a fan of the Green Bay Packers, and everybody who knew him said he was a very humble person, even refusing a salary increase for himself and making all employees owners of Brunswick. He has a foundation in his and his wife’s honor. I attended both my grandparents’ funerals and I watched them be buried. I have PICTURES and VIDEOS of me and my grandfather! What proof do you want?

[@AndyHappyGuy]

@@MrAwesomedude808 alright, show them. You can't trust comments like these these days, so I need to make sure.

[@molonlabe9602]

I used to clean and repair Brunswick A2 machines at my university. The A2 is one of the oldest but most widely used pinsetters in the world. We always kept 21 pins in each pin setter system. It is also interesting to note that each lane had 10 additional pins, which were always "resting" as part of a 31 pin rotation per lane.

[@venture312]

I work part time as an A2 mechanic at a 52 lane center. we run 21 pins in each machine, with a full change of pins for the house "resting"

[@daffers2345]

I think this is what our big local lane used when I was a kid, because I remember it being different. The ball would come out the top, and we'd watch for it to drop down the ramp while the pins reset. The grippers were also different, and were bigger than the ones in this video. I seem to remember also seeing a pinsetter that had grippers that went almost the whole way around the pins, sort of like a metal "cage." This was back in the day when some alleys still used blue bags for bumper bowling, though, so there probably aren't any of those anymore.

[@LeeNotSa]

​@@daffers2345You're talking/thinking about the Brunswick A2 which has a pin cage/turret system which drops pins into cups. It also has a pin wheel and ball wheel which carry each piece in opposite directions to clear the pit.

[@sixstringedthing]

When I was a kid, the resetting of the pins basically happened by magic as far as I was concerned. Nothing much has changed after watching this video. What a fascinatingly complex device. Many cleverly designed static parts doing specific jobs, all perfectly synchronised by the driven components. Awesome animation work here!

[@frankhooper7871]

My parents, my maternal grand-parents and I emigrated to California in 1953. My grand-father's first job was manually setting pins at a bowling alley.

[@rckolc]

I am 64 years old. When I was 12 years old in 1972, I was a pinsetter at a summer camp. The pinsetter (The person) had to pick up the pins that were knocked down, then load them into the setting rack. The pins were set up by the setting rack by the pinsetter pressing the set button. In order to avoid getting hit by the bowling ball, the pinsetter had to jump up onto a padded bench. Back in those days, I was amazed how ingenious that was. Things have changed a bit since then.

[@epicrodtezla3228]

The guys who come up with the bowling ball mechanism are pure geniuses 💪💪 massive respect to the engineering fit put forward to develop it

[@OscarScheepstra_Artemis_]

You've put so much effort and processing power in this video that it might have been easier for you to go to a bowling alley to record it with a camera. This is AMAZING!

[@opo3628]

When I was in elementary school, we would occasionally go on field trips. One of my absolute favorites was when we visited the local bowling alley, where we got a guided tour of the back and watched these machines in action.

[@paulhare662]

We went to Peach Bottom nuclear power plant. I think the bowling alley would have been more interesting.

[@seacliff217]

Honestly, considering how complicated these machines are with tons of moving parts, it's impressive they don't get into issues that frequently after loading hundreds, if not thousands, sets of pins a day.

[@Battlefresh]

Come to my lanes and you won't be so impressed.

[@lesterjones9335]

Oh they have problems, try running a 50 lane center.

[@nuu-age1118]

Yeah, definitely have issues. But, mechanic was always on the clock just in case

[@IcelanderUSer]

My parents owned two bowling lanes. One had Brunswick setters and the other amf. The amf setters are better. Those made in the 70s and 80s anyhow.

[@Lizzie-dj6ei]

as someone who works at a bowling alley I can confirm they have issues on the daily 🤣 It is very clever machinery though

[@jamc666]

the amount of work that went into this 15 minute video is truly impressive

[@fredh.1255]

As someone who knows a few things about pinsetters, this was very well done. Very clear and easily understandable for people who do not know too much about these machines.👍👍👍

[@xapie128]

Very cool. I was a mechanic on Brunswick models A and A2 machines back 30 to 50 years ago. This brought back memories, and surprising I was able to recall names of parts (like "turn pan" and "pin turret") that this new G series has replaced.

[@bm3hansen]

As a kid in the 80s when my parents bowled every Fridays and Saturdays, I was obsessed with the bowling machines. When no one was looking I would sneak down the long hallway that led back behind the pins and I would watch as it looked like a Rube Goldberg machine. Then I would draw pictures of bowling pins and the machines I saw.

[@coloradostrong]

We saw you peeing back there too. We had cameras to watch for machine jamming.

[@arfansthename]

@@coloradostrong you saw him what?!

[@arealcasual3673]

Coming from someone that worked on GS-X machines for several years this was a great explanation and overview of how these machines work. Nice video!

[@richardwassem3023]

Back in the 1980's I worked as the mechanic at a bowling alley that used Brunswick A2 conversion pinsetters. The parts were different but they worked on the same basic principles. Hopefully bowling can make a comeback. It's a fun game.

[@ajankowski2]

Thanks so much for this! Years ago I was a pin chaser in an AMF 82/70 equipped house, and I was pretty familiar with Brunswick 'A' machines from the time I spent as an Officer/Inspector with a local Bowling Association. But I had never seen the back end or inner workings of the Brunswick GS series and always wondered how some of the parts worked. This video answered all of the questions I ever had!

[@stevesomers7366]

An incredible piece of work, Jared. Amazing! First rate. Probably the most complex mechanical illustration I've seen.

[@parinpatel5719]

This is the video that inspired me to become an engineer. Such amazing craftsmanship is what it takes to make our world a better place!

[@adithyan9263]

i took everyday things like these with genius engineering in them for granted. now i have a new and improved perspective whenever i look at something. and i thank u for that 😭

[@taridean]

Not only is the engineering behind this machine impressive. 3D modelling and animating it for this video is equally impressive too.

[@Cyber_One]

When I was young, I thought the Ball Pit was an endless void where all pins fall into, never to return and even once dreamt of falling in it.

[@madscientist1828]

When I was a brunswick mechanic I enjoyed scaring people. I was only 20 but I knew my machines. I would unplug the drive motor, which left the pin light on but disabled the machine. Then I would trip the rake and crawl underneath and inside the machine lol. Customers would be like "that crazy mechanic is inside the machine with it running!!" Lol

[@rartolak]

Probably a2 stuff, they use a shaker plate vs the conveyer like these newer ones or amf machines

[@okuu_utsuho]

Same

[@therandomytchannel4318]

Bowling in an empty Alley with no one around, the gsx machines are actually pretty loud, you can hear the pins loading and on multiple strikes, you can hear the remaining 8 pins drop into the setting table 😊

[@scothowe539]

Awesome video. As a teenager in the late 70’s I worked part time in a Brunswick house doing light daily maintenance. These machines are very different from those I worked on.

[@SOPM2007]

The funny thing is, I recently went bowling for my very first time and after it I asked myself, how does the mechanism for resetting works and today, KZbin suggests me this video, just as it knows what I'd in mind :)

[@rouxgreasus]

Your phone spies on you, you know.

[@SOPM2007]

@@rouxgreasus Yes, I am aware of that. Data will collect everywhere for tech companies to control the world.

[@rouxgreasus]

@@SOPM2007 Presidents? What are those?

[@Clery75019]

As scary as that may sound, Google, therefore KZbin, actually knows you went bowling.

[@SOPM2007]

@@Clery75019 A solution would be to leave the phone at home and not using Google services at all, right?

[@MickeyE]

WOW! I just saw this and it was an incredible video. Back in the ancient ages (I'm 84 now and this was around 1955 or so when I was a teenager) our local Masonic Temple had a small, 6 lane if I remember correctly, bowling alley. I worked there after school and on weekends as a pinsetter. We had manual machines that were basically setting tables that we loaded by hand and pushed down on a large lever that moved the table down to set the pins. We worked 2 lanes by 1 pinsetter. We had to manually lift the ball to the ball return and it rolled down a ramp to accelerate it to the ball return table. We sat on a bench between our 2 lanes waiting on the bowlers to bowl. If one of the other pinsetters didn't show up we had to cover 4 lanes. That was always interesting, especially when leagues were bowling. If the pins needed to be reset the bowler would set the ball down on the lane and we would reset the pins. Once in a while a bowler would forget and set the ball down while he dried his hands or something and the pins would be reset when they should not have been. Then we had to manually remove the pins that had been knocked down so he could try to make his spare. One time a bowler, who bowled a very fast ball, bowled and when the ball struck the pins one pin bounced off the side of the ball return, flew up and across the lane and where I was sitting and grazed my forehead right at my eyebrow barely cutting the skin. I returned the ball, put the pins in the setter and while doing that the bowler saw the blood on my forehead and I think he nearly had a heart attack. One inch in any direction and I probably would have been dead! Fortunately a good cleaning and a large band-aid let me finish my shift. Thinking about it now makes me shudder.

[@daffers2345]

I talked to a woman who said she rememberedgokng bowling with humans resetting the pins. SHe said at the end of their game, they'd throw a quarter up the gutter for a tip. I also saw part of an old movie where two young men were talking while setting pins with a mechanical rack. They were moving and setting the pins constantly during their conversation. I wondered if "real" pinsetters would get so used to the job that they'd do it without thinking like in the film.

[@steveiden471]

Amazing that these things do so well considering we're all slamming them with 15-20 mph 16-lb. balls! Great Animation Jared! My grandfather sold these for over 30 years at Brunswick. It's great to see my grandchildren enjoying the sport again.

[@rasmuspoulsen956]

I worked as a mechanic on these machines. best 7 years of work. the complexity and precision required for this to run is awesome. good video. eat my sub.

[@bhaktibhandari7379]

Before this video:- Ohhh my god! HOW COMPLEX WOULD THE THINGS BE! After seeing this:- "Eh, everything's EASY!!" Really magical videos!

[@ninji5226]

Honestly, how a pinsetter works was right up there in mystery with what's inside Oscar the grouch's can! I feel that great mystery has been solved and I may never be the same again. That was incredible!!!!

[@travelingjere]

Space Shuttle: most complicated thing humans have made Bowling pinsetter machine: hold my beer

[@User_-dp6mb]

XD

[@nikgaming6515]

U could have said hold my pins

[@TheRandomTurtleOfficial]

@@nikgaming6515 yeah I was about to say lol

[@Mr_Bedlam215]

@@nikgaming6515 He also could have said "Hold my balls." ....

[@haneenabdul8248]

Redstone engenders be like pathetic

[@DivineRedwood]

*I've been a lifetime bowler and have always enjoyed watching the machines work in the back, but to have each and every moment of engineering pointed out was amazing. Perfect!*

[@zircon72]

"You got all that? Yeah me neither!" Lmaoo Jared you are the best😂

[@JaredOwen]

Can't take things too serious!

[@ACUEZIUM]

@@JaredOwen can you show us how a submarine works next time?

[@MaskedDeath_]

@@ACUEZIUM As far as I know, most of that info is classified. Jared might not have enough info available for this.

[@ACUEZIUM]

@@MaskedDeath_ yeah i know but he also made a video about the space shuttle and most of it was classified too (the inner sections i mean)

[@bonefacio]

Well done. Having hands on experience with these pinsetters, this was about as perfectly explained as it could have ever been. Amazingly engineered, but can be a nightmare to service at times. Metal on plastic, plastic on metal, all moving in motion. And if something isn’t right with it, it will let you know very quickly. Nice work. 👍

[@Steven-yw4gv]

I wish the Brunswick training videos were half as well explained as this lol. And nothing like replacing a table pulley, only to have your table stop detecting the 4-7-8 right?

[@Jabberwork.]

@@Steven-yw4gv Jam Switch 1, Jam Switch 2, Pin loading timeout, Elevator Jam Switch, etc. man i love my job 😅

[@nicholaslloyd5623]

I've never understood why there's so much plastic on these machines. I work on sherman pinsetters from the 1950s (duckpin) and there's hardly and plastic on them. Thick steel and iron everywhere

[@bonefacio]

@@nicholaslloyd5623 job security. If they continued to make them like they used to, centers would never upgrade their pinsetters!

[@michaelclift6849]

Looks like a nightmare to pull apart. If something is wrong between the pin stations and the setting table, how the hell do you get in there?

[@seanlangton3921]

This mans explanations and 3D animation go UNRIVALED

[@ChadAmI80]

Dang! I can only imagine how many hours you have into this. The shear amount of time involved with learning on machine works before you even being to model it is mind boggling. Great job sir!

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you! It was fun to make

[@Kriz10]

The Legend Arises after a Long Break😊😊

[@AniilLoura]

Masterpiece takes time😁

[@Justgoingby]

For his creativity 1 month is normal

[@kentslocum]

I know everyone says that a nuclear power plant is the most complex thing ever designed by humans, but when it comes to individual machines, I am flabbergasted at the beautiful complexity of a bowling pin setter. Well done!

[@daffers2345]

Nuclear power may be fascinating, but a nuclear plant has nowhere near the amount of moving parts that go into many machines and mechanical gadgets. Just open up a mechanical watch and you'll see. I am always amazed that people figured these things out long before I was born!

[@kentslocum]

@@daffers2345 I agree that mechanical watches are incredibly complex works of engineering prowess, but a nuclear power plant definitely has more moving parts than most machines and mechanical gadgets. Just think of all the cranes, pumps, valves, turbines, and generators! A nuclear power plant is literally a machine made of other machines--and each of those machines is complicated all by itself. Sure, not everything in a nuclear power plant moves, but I think you might want to do the math.

[@Thewinner312]

Awesome video! I think there is one more piece of engineering in 8:22 I was wondering how it works setting only some of the pins down. Because each turn the machine tries to release 10 pins from the pin station to the setting table, so the new ones would crash into the ones that have not been released onto the lane. However, it seems like if the pin holder stays closed it slightly misses the pin release lever. Nice engineering.

[@stephenjerome4135]

This has to be one of the most complex and innovative piece of machinery I've ever seen. I was at a bowling alley just a few weeks ago actually and I've always been fascinated by the pinsetter machine and how it all works. I've really learned a lot from watching this about what all the parts are called and how the pins get reset into the pinsetter table, how the remaining pins get lifted and how the mechanism keeps scores, and even how the machine returns the balls back to the ball rack. It's astonishing to think how much stuff is actually going on all at the same time by this amazing machinery and it's all happening in such quick time which is even more impressive. Must be a great job working on these great machines.

[@Computist40]

This was covered very extensively which was perfect. My mom used to work at a local bowling alley when I was growing up, she only gave me the basics how these work, but man it's loud back behind the lane when there's a league going on. As a bonus I got a free ride on the oil machine most of the time.

[@ouwebrood497]

I can remember it was quite a loud noise when I once was allowed to take a look.

[@_Nykolaii_]

Without Jared, we would all still be wondering what black magic makes the pins rise from the deads.

[@CIAVE]

Very cool animation, well done! I worked part time as a bowling alley night technician from 1977-1981. We had Brunswick A-2 Pinsetters. We did daily maintenance and corrected common issues with the machines when in use. If memory serves, the A-2 is from circa late-1950's. A ball wheel at the back took the ball from the pit and sent it on its way back upfront. Instead of the elevator, a another wheel at the rear of the machine took the pins to the top for loading in a turret. Fun place to work as a kid, even at $2.10 an hour. Had plenty of time to do my homework during league play, but lost some of my hearing because the decibel level was very high for 2-4 hours a night. OSHA was nowhere in sight at that time...

[@awesomness6775]

I just came home from my birthday party *at the bowling alley* and got this video recommended to me from *three days ago* I'm just speechless...

[@MrJaiimez]

I must admit the system is far more compact and in ways simpler than I expected, I always envisioned a massive complex system behind the boards, never realised each lane is its own self contained system. Was fascinating to watch.

[@MadDogHoek23]

I don’t know why it would need anything massive but this is simple and more complex than it may seem at first. It’s engineering at its finest.

[@LoveMeSomeCoffee.]

Jared's posted a video! Looks like it's time to spend another 15mins being completely fascinated by something I've never thought twice about before!

[@marcfortier6632]

Came to watch this after Chuck and Josh from the stuff you should know podcast gave it a shout out during their bowling episode. They mentioned how great it was and they weren't kidding. Awesome video.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you Marc! I'm glad they mentioned my video😀

[@Thor_the_Doge]

9.y.o me was always fascinated by how the bowling pins fall into the endless abyss after you hit them with a bowling ball

[@usvalve]

I think a phonograph record autochanger would be a great subject for a video like this, especially if we could have a split screen showing what happens above the deck - the bit we know - and simultaneously all the stuff happening underneath. They were very clever, and totally mechanical too.

[@ryanmccolloch4734]

My grandfather was a human pinsetter as a little boy in the thirties. He left home so his siblings could have more food and lived in an abandoned car in an alley. Thankfully little kids are not setting pins anymore, but I'm glad this thing didn't take his job at the time.

[@MarkWhich]

The Players usually called them Pin-boys.

[@williamhanna4823]

My mother was a 250-ish bowler in the thirties, and she said she would always slide a quarter down the lane at the end of each game for the manual pinsetter. Big money in those days, I suppose.

[@BrilliantDesignOnline]

For such a contrived game, rolling balls down a wooden track to hit stood up sticks, the engineering to design this machine, to accomplish all these functions, in a compact fashion is incredible. All so you can go to the bowling alley and have fun, with the mechanicals magically hidden from view. Your animations are excellent, but more so the way you break the functions down and highlight only parts of the system at a time, is BRILLIANT.

[@vari1535]

Holy crap, your 3D animation is so detailed! And crisp and refined and smooth... (and this is coming from watching the first 15 seconds) After watching: It was really cool to learn about the complex mechanisms, all working simultaneously, behind something we were only familiar with on the outside. Thanks for showing that! Also, that transition to the sponsorship was genuinely great.

[@jackybeck2479]

Very interesting to learn about how the machine at the end works to make the game work correctly!

[@suspense_comix3237]

I miss bowling...It's been 4 years since I bowled with my family

[@alisterhare2909]

i had the pleasure of working with this particular machine for a few years and they are not only very complex but also very dangerous to work around if you are not careful.

[@brendanayres7920]

So. This is the first time I've watch this channel. The knowledge and presentation is exceptional! Well done. I'll be watching more. 👍

[@josephwhite0615]

It's so amazing that all this happens within 15-20 seconds

[@eliasziad7864]

40 seconds

[@galacticgold507]

Even in 480p, his animation is still good

[@charlesbird781]

This is probably the best animated and narrated video of a complex machine I’ve ever seen. The creator should offer master classes to people who want to design and present 3D animated content of the highest caliber.

[@DarkVoidIII]

There's also a version of a pinsetter that uses a rotating cylinder to transport the bowling pins up to the top of the machine without the use of conveyors. It's a lot less common but it apparently uses a rotary style of pin setting on the top of the machine as well. Edit: They're known as AMF pinspotters. Wikipedia link explains their operation in more detail: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pinsetter

[@busy_beaver]

It's hard even to imagine how EXPENSIVE this machins is