Hello! I’m not sure if you’ll still be reading the comments, but this video ignited the fire inside me. You gave me the motivation to start saving up for the toy. After three years, I already got nearly three times more money than I need. A few months ago, I went across a platform and saw the brown variant. I was so excited-and the game was in perfect condition. It cost me approximately 100 USD and I bought it right on the spot. After a few months playing with it, unfortunately, the sweep assembly broke and I've tried gluing it back but failed. I felt dreadful every time I looked at it, so I left it on the top of my closet and hadn't touched it for two months or so. A few days earlier, I came across this video again, Christmas holiday began and I felt that it was time for me to fix it. Feeling more powered than ever, I started printing out the broken parts and successfully fixed it. I was on cloud nine. Thank you, the person who ignited the fire in my heart, who gave me the motivation. This meant a lot to me. Thanks so much!
Very cool on you to get this working. I paid $360 for mine, OUCH! but it as close to new as one is likely to find out there. And man, they ALL squeak like that! Love the bell.
There's a crank at the other end - the shaft runs all the way down under the left side of the lane, and turns a worm gear than drives the entire mechanism. The only manual task is grabbing the pins out of the rear bin (where they wind up after the lane sweeper pushes them back) and loading them into the pinspotter. The ball is launched from the hand of a little plastic bowling guy, whose arm is hooked up to a pinball-style plunger, but you can also aim him left/right.
Loved my Bowl-A-Matic when I was a kid! I rigged a Brunswick-style curtain to the back, so the balls and pins wouldn't go flying across the room. The problem I encountered was that the wire from the crank wore out too quickly.
@djm50able The pinsetter/lifter and sweeper are manually activated after each "throw" by manually turning the crank on the side of lane (next to the bowler). There is a bell that rings, indicating when you should stop turning the crank. I guess if you wanted to get fancy (and destroy any potential collectible value), you could rig a sensor across the lane in front of the first pin that waited a few seconds and then activated a motor that you connected to the crank ;-)
My friend Mark Sullivan got one for xmas and boy, was I jealous. Wanted one of these real bad. Don't know why my parents got me the golf-a matic instead. Anybody remember that one? Just had to get another Skittlebowl game which is more fun.
The Bowl-A-Matic is currently undergoing repairs - the wooden pieces I used to repair it have developed some sag, so the pins now no longer raise high enough to clear the incoming sweeper bar. I'll post more when it's fixed again.
I would love to buy one of these, tear it apart, and have the plastic parts made out of metal to increase durability. I know that seems sacrilegious, but with as much as I would be playing with it I would want to make sure nothing breaks too easily.
LOL - I doubt your was missing the pinsetter arms and cam followers (someone snapped them off the one I bought long before I ever saw it). Regarding your problem, try having one person turn the crank while another person attempts to rotate the main mechanism (you should be able to tell if the crank is just stuck or if the main mechanism is jammed by watching the spot where the worm gear from the crank meshes with the white gear on the main shaft) Don't force it!
I seem to have the same problem on one I just aquired. Would you be able to please explain how you "unfroze" the white wheel? When the crank is turned the worm drive turns but the white toothed wheel stays put. Thank you!
(Suck it, youtube - your crappy message length limits are almost as annoying as your video length limits) ...cont'd Then I started gluing a bunch of popsicle sticks together in approximately the right shape (and used a dowel rod as a cam follower since I thought the popsicle sticks weren't round enough). Then I hooked them on, tested, added more sticks, tested, added more sticks, tested, trimmed with a dremel, tested, etc until it worked).
i am trying to find detailed parts list for this game so i can try to make a upscaled version of it. Eldon Industries - Hawthorne, California Early 1950's ( as UNGAR) on into the late1970's Leading manufacturer of plastic "Selectronic" brand slot car sets. Also famous for "Skee-Ball" and "Bowl-A-Matic" games. Products also inclded a wide variety of very inventive plastic toy cars. trucks and boats. They were aquired by Cox Industries in 1979. then aquired by a few other companies so i lost track now. i wanted to see if i could get a break out picture of the game showing all the parts but don't look like i can find them. that is why i would love to find a broken one i could tear aprt to study. anyone know where i could get any parts detailed pictures or diagrams? i can not afford to buy the game at the high prices it goes for now as i am disabled and on a low disability income. beyond my reach. just would have liked to try and make one twice its size. i have bowling pins and balls twice the size of what the game has. just thought it would be fun to try and make a bigger version. anyone got info that could help let me know.
@jcmilam1 - Isaw you messaged me also about fixing these... Here's how I fixed mine: I googled the hell out of the thing, collecting as many images of the mechanism as I could. Then I downloaded the patent diagrams (again, google is your friend). Then I stared at it for a little, using the part of my brain that figures out mechanical problems, to envision what needed to be done to make the broken pinsetter actually rise properly.
...cont'd Your problem is undoubtedly different, but I think you can figure it out if you try hard enough like I did. Otherwise, you can ship it to me and I'll fix it. My rate is $100/hr (I'm not kidding - I make that much at my job, so I'm charging you the same). I estimate between one and two hours repair time.
Hello! I’m not sure if you’ll still be reading the comments, but this video ignited the fire inside me. You gave me the motivation to start saving up for the toy. After three years, I already got nearly three times more money than I need. A few months ago, I went across a platform and saw the brown variant. I was so excited-and the game was in perfect condition. It cost me approximately 100 USD and I bought it right on the spot. After a few months playing with it, unfortunately, the sweep assembly broke and I've tried gluing it back but failed. I felt dreadful every time I looked at it, so I left it on the top of my closet and hadn't touched it for two months or so. A few days earlier, I came across this video again, Christmas holiday began and I felt that it was time for me to fix it. Feeling more powered than ever, I started printing out the broken parts and successfully fixed it. I was on cloud nine. Thank you, the person who ignited the fire in my heart, who gave me the motivation. This meant a lot to me. Thanks so much!
I had one of these when I was a Youngster. For some reason the bowler throws the ball reminded me of the way Don Carter used to bowl.
Very cool on you to get this working. I paid $360 for mine, OUCH! but it as close to new as one is likely to find out there. And man, they ALL squeak like that! Love the bell.
There's a crank at the other end - the shaft runs all the way down under the left side of the lane, and turns a worm gear than drives the entire mechanism. The only manual task is grabbing the pins out of the rear bin (where they wind up after the lane sweeper pushes them back) and loading them into the pinspotter.
The ball is launched from the hand of a little plastic bowling guy, whose arm is hooked up to a pinball-style plunger, but you can also aim him left/right.
Loved my Bowl-A-Matic when I was a kid! I rigged a Brunswick-style curtain to the back, so the balls and pins wouldn't go flying across the room. The problem I encountered was that the wire from the crank wore out too quickly.
@djm50able
The pinsetter/lifter and sweeper are manually activated after each "throw" by manually turning the crank on the side of lane (next to the bowler). There is a bell that rings, indicating when you should stop turning the crank.
I guess if you wanted to get fancy (and destroy any potential collectible value), you could rig a sensor across the lane in front of the first pin that waited a few seconds and then activated a motor that you connected to the crank ;-)
My friend Mark Sullivan got one for xmas and boy, was I jealous. Wanted one of these real bad. Don't know why my parents got me the golf-a matic instead.
Anybody remember that one? Just had to get another Skittlebowl game which is
more fun.
I had one as a kid. It was a pian because you had to load the pins each time. We had more fun with our American building blocks.
I am searching for a working model. I enjoyed one as a child.
I had one of those! I once bowled a 300 game.... no wait, I'm lying
This should be the next Brunswick GS Series, the Brunswick GS-100
The Bowl-A-Matic is currently undergoing repairs - the wooden pieces I used to repair it have developed some sag, so the pins now no longer raise high enough to clear the incoming sweeper bar. I'll post more when it's fixed again.
I wish I still had mine
@TheAcslator - sorry, it's not currently for sale.
The sweeper activates every time you turn the crank (which you do after every throw), just like at the real bowling alley.
I would love to buy one of these, tear it apart, and have the plastic parts made out of metal to increase durability. I know that seems sacrilegious, but with as much as I would be playing with it I would want to make sure nothing breaks too easily.
where can i find one of these?
nice video!!
LOL - I doubt your was missing the pinsetter arms and cam followers (someone snapped them off the one I bought long before I ever saw it).
Regarding your problem, try having one person turn the crank while another person attempts to rotate the main mechanism (you should be able to tell if the crank is just stuck or if the main mechanism is jammed by watching the spot where the worm gear from the crank meshes with the white gear on the main shaft)
Don't force it!
Were did you buy it ???????
awesome whare did you buy it?????
I seem to have the same problem on one I just aquired. Would you be able to please explain how you "unfroze" the white wheel? When the crank is turned the worm drive turns but the white toothed wheel stays put. Thank you!
can you upload more please?
where do they sell these at besides yard sales
Did you do the pinsetter,or did it do it by itself.
i just bought one today at a yard sale, no box but the game seems to be in GREAT shape! what should i ask when i ebay it?
Wat!!' I'd like it guys!!!!
What’s That?, The Eldon Bowl O Matic? That Lame Old Game Shut Down Ages Ago
And my worm gear thing broke so I had to turn the ball return wheel to make it work. It really ruined my Christmas that year.
billp4 THAT'S WHAT YOU GET YOU LOSER NOOB
@parleworldwide - how should I know?
i wish i was old enough to have one i bowl all the time and the ones i see for sell on ebay are $299
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(Suck it, youtube - your crappy message length limits are almost as annoying as your video length limits)
...cont'd
Then I started gluing a bunch of popsicle sticks together in approximately the right shape (and used a dowel rod as a cam follower since I thought the popsicle sticks weren't round enough). Then I hooked them on, tested, added more sticks, tested, added more sticks, tested, trimmed with a dremel, tested, etc until it worked).
i am trying to find detailed parts list for this game so i can try to make a upscaled version of it. Eldon Industries - Hawthorne, California Early 1950's ( as UNGAR) on into the late1970's Leading manufacturer of plastic "Selectronic" brand slot car sets. Also famous for "Skee-Ball" and "Bowl-A-Matic" games. Products also inclded a wide variety of very inventive plastic toy cars. trucks and boats. They were aquired by Cox Industries in 1979. then aquired by a few other companies so i lost track now. i wanted to see if i could get a break out picture of the game showing all the parts but don't look like i can find them. that is why i would love to find a broken one i could tear aprt to study. anyone know where i could get any parts detailed pictures or diagrams? i can not afford to buy the game at the high prices it goes for now as i am disabled and on a low disability income. beyond my reach. just would have liked to try and make one twice its size. i have bowling pins and balls twice the size of what the game has. just thought it would be fun to try and make a bigger version. anyone got info that could help let me know.
I fixed mine using a combination of the drawings filed with the patent, and various images and videos found with some googling.
There's one on eBay, but it costs 300 dollars.
is it in toys r us?
Lewis Curryer 😂
Lewis Curryer they are not at Toys R Us they are at target but they don't make them any more they are made in 1962
Bring back the old toys and throw away video games for kids.
ok thanks
@jcmilam1 - Isaw you messaged me also about fixing these...
Here's how I fixed mine: I googled the hell out of the thing, collecting as many images of the mechanism as I could. Then I downloaded the patent diagrams (again, google is your friend). Then I stared at it for a little, using the part of my brain that figures out mechanical problems, to envision what needed to be done to make the broken pinsetter actually rise properly.
Oh good luck replacing it if It breaks, i would put it in a safe spot where no one else can touch it
i want one
cool toy you got there i will try to get one p.s. if i can find one LOL
1:11
I'm so confused
will you sell it to me
i will buy it off you how much you want for it
...cont'd
Your problem is undoubtedly different, but I think you can figure it out if you try hard enough like I did. Otherwise, you can ship it to me and I'll fix it. My rate is $100/hr (I'm not kidding - I make that much at my job, so I'm charging you the same). I estimate between one and two hours repair time.
io