Brunswick Bowling Balls: Brands And History

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, has been a key player in the bowling industry since its inception. Founded by John Moses Brunswick in 1845, the company initially focused on manufacturing carriages but quickly pivoted to billiards, and later bowling, when Moses recognised the potential of these games. Over the years, Brunswick has been instrumental in shaping the sport, from standardising rules to introducing innovations like automatic pinsetters. In 2015, Brunswick sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. However, the company continues to produce bowling balls under its own brand name, as well as the DV8 brand. In 2019, Brunswick expanded its bowling portfolio by acquiring Ebonite International and all its bowling product brands, including Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300, and Track.

Brunswick sold its bowling equipment division to BlueArc Capital Management in 2015

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, has had a long and storied history with bowling. The company shared a path with the sport from its very beginnings, with founder John Moses Brunswick playing an integral role in the birth of bowling by building a company dedicated to taking the game out of fancy Victorian parlors and into the public arena.

Over the years, Brunswick expanded its bowling-related operations to include the manufacturing of bowling equipment and products, as well as the direct operation of bowling centers. In the mid-1960s, Brunswick began to operate bowling centers directly, and in 2007, it opened its first Brunswick Zone XL centers, large, smoke-free facilities aimed at families and groups.

However, in July 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to leave the bowling business, citing a desire to focus on its core Marine and Fitness businesses. As part of this exit strategy, Brunswick sold its bowling center business to competitor Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation) in September 2014.

Finally, in May 2015, Brunswick completed its exit from the bowling business by selling its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. This sale included the manufacturing of wooden lanes, bowling balls, and bowling pins, as well as related products and accessories. BlueArc completed the acquisition with investments from other companies and continues to produce bowling balls and other equipment under the Brunswick brand name.

Brunswick's bowling ball brands include Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300, Track, DV8, Radical, and Brunswick

Brunswick Bowling & Billiards was a business segment of Brunswick Corporation that included bowling equipment and products, bowling centres, and billiards. In 2015, Brunswick Corporation sold its bowling equipment and products division to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm. BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick brand name, as well as the following brands: Ebonite, Hammer, Columbia 300, Track, DV8, and Radical.

In 1845, John Moses Brunswick founded the J.M. Brunswick Manufacturing Company in Cincinnati, Ohio. The company originally focused on making carriages, but Brunswick soon became fascinated with billiards and decided to shift his company's focus to manufacturing billiard tables. The business was a commercial success, and Brunswick expanded his operations to include other products such as large ornate neo-classical style bars for saloons. In the 1880s, the company began producing wooden lanes, bowling balls, and bowling pins as taverns started to install bowling lanes.

Moses Bensinger, John Brunswick's son-in-law, actively promoted bowling as a participatory sport and played a significant role in organising the American Bowling Congress in 1895. In 1906, Bensinger opened a large manufacturing plant in Muskegon, Michigan, which became the cornerstone of the firm's manufacturing operations. During World War II, United Service Organizations (USO) centres and military bases purchased bowling equipment from Brunswick, resulting in over 3,000 bowling lanes being installed at military bases by 1945.

In addition to its bowling equipment business, Brunswick also operated bowling centres directly. In 2014, the company sold its bowling centre business to Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation) for $270 million. The sale included 85 bowling centres in the US and Canada, making Bowlero the largest operator of bowling centres in North America.

Today, Brunswick Corporation is an American corporation that manufactures and markets a diverse range of products, including boating brands such as Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, and Mercury Marine. The company reported sales of $5.8 billion in 2021 and has over 13,000 employees operating in 24 countries.

Brunswick's bowling equipment division was originally established in the 1880s

Brunswick Bowling & Billiards was the business segment of Brunswick Corporation that historically encompassed three divisions: billiards, bowling equipment and products, and bowling centers. The bowling equipment division was originally established in the 1880s, when the company began manufacturing wooden lanes, bowling balls, and bowling pins. This expansion into the bowling business is largely credited to Moses Bensinger, John Brunswick's son-in-law, who was directing the company's day-to-day operations at the time. Bensinger saw the potential in the then-disorganized sport of bowling and played a crucial role in promoting it as a participatory sport.

In the 1880s, taverns began to install bowling lanes, and Brunswick was quick to seize this opportunity by producing the necessary equipment. This strategic move laid the foundation for the company's future success in the bowling industry. By the 1890s, Brunswick had expanded its expertise into tenpin bowling and played a pivotal role in standardising the game. As the sport gained popularity, Brunswick's endeavours in full-line equipment manufacturing set industry standards.

The establishment of the bowling equipment division in the 1880s marked a significant diversification for Brunswick, which had initially focused on billiards as its original product line. Over time, the company continued to innovate and expand its bowling-related offerings. In 1906, Moses Bensinger opened a large manufacturing plant in Muskegon, Michigan. This plant became the cornerstone of the firm's manufacturing capabilities, producing revolutionary products such as the $20 Mineralite (hard rubber) bowling ball.

The Mineralite ball, developed by a team known as "The Rubber Men," became an enormous success and set the standard for bowling until the 1960s. The success of this ball not only boosted bowling's popularity but also paved the way for Brunswick to enter new industries. "The Rubber Men" went on to develop various product applications, including Brunswick tires and toilet seats.

In conclusion, the establishment of Brunswick's bowling equipment division in the 1880s was a pivotal moment in the company's history. It not only marked their entry into the bowling industry but also set the stage for future innovations and expansions that solidified their position as a market leader in bowling equipment and products.

Brunswick's bowling centres were sold to Bowlero Corporation in 2014

Brunswick has been a key player in the bowling industry since its inception, with its founder, John Moses Brunswick, playing a pivotal role in taking bowling out of fancy Victorian parlours and into the public arena. Moses Bensinger, John Brunswick's son-in-law, was instrumental in promoting bowling as a participatory sport and standardising the rules of the game. He also organised the first American Bowling Congress in 1895, which held its first significant bowling tournament in 1902.

In the mid-1960s, Brunswick began directly operating bowling centres, and by 2014, they had become the second-largest operator of bowling centres in the United States, with 88 centres across the US and Canada. These centres offered a range of amenities, including bowling, in-house restaurants, taverns, outdoor patios, billiards, video games, laser tag, pro shops, and meeting and party rooms.

However, in July 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to exit the bowling business by the end of that year, shocking many in the industry. The company disclosed that it had agreed to sell its bowling centre business to its competitor, Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation), for $270 million. The sale was completed in September 2014, and by January 2020, all remaining Brunswick Zone locations were rebranded with either the Bowlero or AMF names.

Brunswick's decision to sell its bowling centres was not due to a decline in bowling's popularity, according to Chief Executive Dustan "Dusty" McCoy. Instead, he attributed it to the changing nature of the industry, where bowling centres were evolving into entertainment centres with various attractions beyond bowling. McCoy believed that Brunswick's centres would be better suited under Bowlmor AMF's ownership, as they were not a good fit with the rest of Brunswick's business, which included manufacturing billiards, exercise equipment, and pleasure boats.

This sale marked a significant shift in the bowling industry, as Brunswick had been a stalwart in the sport for over a century, contributing to its global growth and innovation.

Brunswick's bowling business generated $187 million in sales

Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has been manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products since 1845. In 2014, Brunswick's bowling business generated $187 million in sales. This segment of the business was sold to Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation) for $270 million. The bowling business encompassed three divisions: billiards, bowling equipment and products, and bowling centers.

The billiards division was the original business of Brunswick Corporation, established in 1845. The company designs, manufactures, and markets billiards tables, table tennis tables, air-powered table hockey games, and other gaming tables, as well as billiard balls, cues, and accessories. Billiards was a successful venture for Brunswick, with over 13,000 tables installed at military bases by 1945.

Bowling equipment and products were introduced in the 1880s, with the company producing wooden lanes, bowling balls, and pins. Brunswick continued to innovate in this area, releasing the $20 Mineralite (hard rubber) bowling ball and developing the automatic pinsetter. The bowling equipment line was sold to BlueArc Capital Management in 2015, which continues to use the Brunswick name.

The bowling centers division was started in the mid-1960s and grew to become the second-largest operator of bowling centers in the United States, with 88 centers across the US and Canada. These centers offered bowling and a range of other entertainment options, such as restaurants, laser tag, and video games. The bowling centers were also a profitable venture for Brunswick, generating significant cash flow.

The sale of the bowling business to Bowlmor AMF was completed in September 2014. This decision by Brunswick was unexpected by many in the industry, as the company had been synonymous with bowling for over a century and had played a key role in standardizing the rules and promoting the sport. However, Brunswick's leadership felt that the changing nature of the industry and the entertainment-focused direction of bowling centers no longer aligned with the rest of the company's business, which included billiards, exercise equipment, and pleasure boats.

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