Common Questions

REM and her friends want to go bowling. Here is the list of Common Questions from the website:
Our customers often ask us about AMF bowling. Here are some of their most common questions. If your question is not answered here, then please contact us for more information. Thank you for asking about AMF.

How old is the sport of bowling?

People have enjoyed bowling for thousands of years. Archeologists discovered what they believe are bowling pins – roughly resembling the pins found in modern ten-pin bowling – in a child's tomb in ancient Egypt. Modern-style bowling originated in Europe during the Middle Ages, when bowlers began playing a variety of similar games using nine pins.

When did ten-pin bowling become popular?

Bowling enthusiasts introduced their sport to the US in the mid-1800s. The sport became so popular with gamblers that Connecticut outlawed nine-pin bowling in 1841, but bowlers quickly found a way to sustain their sport by adding another pin.

When did bowling become a sport for the whole family?

The popularity of ten-pin bowling really took off after World War II with the invention of the automated pinspotter by AMF. This technological milestone marked the beginning of an enormous boom in professional bowling competition, league bowling, and bowling as an entertainment for families and friends.

How long has AMF been involved in bowling?

AMF was the first to appreciate the ingenuity of inventor Fred Schmidt, who developed the first automated pinspotter in his garage in Pearl River, NY in 1936. Two years later, AMF hired Schmidt to perfect his invention. At the end of WW II, AMF also hired Samuel Auchincloss and his team of engineers to get the pinspotter machinery ready for a national introduction.

AMF’s commercial pinspotter debuted in 1946 at the American Bowling Congress National Championship in Buffalo, NY.

When did AMF bowling centers become so high-tech?

By 1952, the AMF automated pinspotter was in full production. The AMF pinspotter sparked a revolution in the bowling industry, and our company has continued to improve bowling technology ever since. AMF bowling centers use sophisticated technology for scoring, lane reservations and record-keeping. This technology, combined with our top-notch customer service, enhances the experience for all bowlers.

How popular is bowling?

Bowling is the Number 1 participatory sport in the US, according to The National Sporting Goods Association and the Bowling & Billiards Institute of America, which report that almost 54 million Americans six or older bowl at least once a year.

What makes bowling so popular?

Bowling is probably the most accessible sport available. People between the ages of 3 and 103 can bowl. Bowling is simple enough for occasional players. It also is challenging enough for serious professionals, and competitors who appreciate how hard it is to compete at the highest level.

Has bowling always been AMF’s primary business?

AMF was founded in New York in 1900 as American Machine and Foundry, a manufacturer of industrial equipment for the tobacco industry. Our company has remained a strong force in manufacturing throughout its history. AMF moved into bowling dramatically after World War II, when AMF automated bowling equipment and bowling centers became profitable business ventures.

But doesn’t AMF manufacture other kinds of leisure equipment?

Until the mid 1980s, AMF's broad range of leisure equipment included tennis racquets and snow skis, lawn and garden equipment, wheel goods, Ben Hogan golf clubs, Voit inflatable balls, exercise equipment, Hatteras yachts and scuba gear. At one time, AMF owned Harley Davidson motorcycles.

When did AMF decide to narrow its focus?

In 1985, a Minnesota-based company called Minstar, Inc. bought AMF Inc. and began to sell its various business divisions. A group of investors in Richmond, Virginia recognized that bowling was one of AMF’s strengths, and they purchased the bowling division that same year. The new owners began revitalizing the business with a strong focus on expanding the appeal of bowling to league and social bowlers.

Who currently owns AMF?

In February 2004, an affiliate of the Chicago‑based private investment firm Code Hennessy and Simmons, LLC, purchased AMF with the same commitment to its future in the bowling industry. AMF is still headquartered in Richmond, Va.

What is AMF like today?

Today AMF has more than 10,000 employees engaged in the operation of customer-focused bowling centers. AMF is the world’s largest owner and operator of bowling centers. QubicaAMF is also a leader in the manufacturing and marketing of bowling equipment worldwide.

Does AMF still make bowling center equipment?

A new joint venture of our company, QubicaAMF, manufactures a full line of bowling equipment such as automatic pinspotters, scoring equipment, bowling center furniture, bowling pins, High Performance Lanes (HPL), ball returns, and spare parts.

Who runs AMF?

Fred Hipp is the president and chief executive officer of AMF Bowling Worldwide, Inc. Mr. Hipp joined AMF in February 2004 with 30 years in the hospitality industry, most recently as president and CEO of California Pizza Kitchen. Mr. Hipp is a native of Buffalo, N.Y., ironically the very same city where AMF debuted its automated pinspotter in 1946.

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