by Eldon
Originally selling for $16.98, this unique game received an Honorable Mention from Popular Mechanics’ “Toys Of The Year” awards in November of 1962.
In January, 2010, I saw a nice one of these on ebay. It sold for $610.
Brand new, it came with an instruction sheet, score sheets and a ‘Handy Order Blank’ for when you run out.
This vintage bowling game measures more than four feet in length. It is brown molded, simulated-wood plastic. The center alley is a type of fiber wood.
Here’s what you listened to in 1962!
Here’s what you watched on TV in 1962!
Here’s what you saw at the movies in 1962!
To play, aim the bowler and his marble “bowling ball” with the handle at the near end of the “alley”, then pull it like a pinball machine and the spring-loaded arm lets ‘er rip. After your first shot, the assembly at the other end performs the following:
– picks up the remaining pins
- sweeps the downed pins to the back
- resets the remaining pins into position
- returns the ball to the player
To accomplish this, simply turn the hand crank to move the pin-setter assembly. It’s just like being there!
If you have one NOT for sale or are very familiar with them….
I just acquired one that doesn’t work at the pin end. Would you be able to describe or take a photo of how the metal piece attached to the worm drive intersects with the metal piece attached to the turn crank? Thank you!
Hey Jeremy.
I don’t currently have one. However, follow this link: videonus.com . The story that goes with the video tells about a guy who found a broken one and repaired it to working condition. He may just be able to send you some pics. Tell him BLiPPEE sent you! Good luck, and be sure to let us know if you get yours going!
So do you have it for sale or not,im 11
Don’t tell me you don’t have it because im obsessed with bowling.
Sorry, my friend. No, we don’t have it.
Do you guys still have eldon bowl-o-matic,if you do is it still selling for $16.98?
If you see this text can you text back to me tonight or tommorow, thanks!
Haha. Wouldn’t it be nice to turn back the clock to 1962 and grab a couple dozen of these for $16.98 each? Sorry, Justus, but you must have skimmed the short blurb we’ve got here about the bowl-a-matic. Nowhere on this page does it say we even have one for sale, let alone for $16.98. If you ever find one for that price though, you’ll make a nice profit if you decide to resell it.
still have this for sale??
Sorry Doug, but no. As of this writing there’s one on ebay with 20 hours left to go. I still see these go up online from time to time. Keep your eyes open, they’re still available!