Lexi Webster
The Brunswick Corporation, formerly known as the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, is an American company that has been manufacturing a wide variety of products since 1845. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who initially intended to manufacture carriages. However, he soon became fascinated with billiards and decided to focus on making billiard tables. Over time, the company expanded its product line and began manufacturing bowling balls using materials such as lignum vitae, rubber, and Mineralite, a hard rubber compound. While the exact materials used in modern bowling balls are closely guarded trade secrets, they typically consist of a metal oxide and resin core with a coverstock made of materials like polyester or urethane.
What You'll Learn
Brunswick Corporation's history
The Brunswick Corporation has a long history that dates back to 1845 when John Moses Brunswick, a carriage maker from Switzerland's Rhine Valley, settled in Cincinnati, Ohio. John was a master woodworker and soon began crafting billiard tables, forming what is now known as the Brunswick Corporation. The company initially focused on manufacturing billiard tables and expanded its operations by opening a sales office in Chicago in 1848. Over time, the company was renamed multiple times, reflecting the involvement of family members and mergers with competitors.
In the late 19th century, Brunswick began to diversify its product line. They expanded into sporting equipment, introducing rubber bowling balls, and manufacturing wooden lanes, pins, and bowling balls. They also ventured into other products, including ornate bars for saloons, automobile tires, and phonographs.
The early 20th century saw Brunswick continue its expansion and diversification. They sold their record company to Warner Brothers and introduced a line of refrigerators. During World War II, the company contributed to the war effort by manufacturing small target-drone aircraft for the US military. Post-war, Brunswick introduced a line of school furniture and pioneered the development of automatic pinsetters for bowling.
In the following decades, Brunswick continued to grow and innovate. They entered the yacht and pleasure boat market, acquiring brands like Bayliner, Boston Whaler, and Sea Ray. They also faced challenges, such as the impact of the Great Depression, and competition in the bowling business. The company continued to adapt and expand its marine and fitness businesses, while divesting from other areas.
In recent years, Brunswick has made strategic acquisitions, such as Freedom Boat Club and Power Products, while also selling off parts of its business, including the bowling division. Today, Brunswick remains a leader in the marine industry, with a focus on innovation and a commitment to its core businesses.
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Bowling ball evolution
Bowling balls have come a long way since their inception, with a long history that can be traced back to ancient Egypt. The evolution of the bowling ball and its design has undergone dramatic changes over time.
Hard Wood
Originally, bowling balls were made from a very hard wood called Lignum vitae. This material was used for bowling balls in their earliest forms, before new designs and materials were introduced.
Vulcanized Rubber
In the early 1900s, bowling balls began to incorporate rubber into their construction. The Everture and Brunswick Corporation's Mineralite used hard rubber, and this material dominated the market until the 1970s.
Polyester and Urethane
Following the rubber bowling balls, polyester balls emerged, and soon after, urethane bowling balls were introduced. Urethane bowling balls are the type that we are most familiar with today. With these new materials, significant design changes were also implemented, including new coverstocks and modifications to the ball cores, which altered the overall balance of the bowling balls.
Modern Design
Today, bowling balls are designed with computers and have carefully crafted and balanced cores that influence their travel down the bowling lane. The innermost core is typically made of powdered metal oxides mixed with resin, which becomes the heaviest part of the ball. The core shape can vary, including lightbulb, spherical, elliptical, or a combination of these shapes. Once the core is created, it is placed inside a mould with a coverstock, and then the material is poured in to harden around the core.
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Brunswick Strike King bowling balls
The Brunswick Corporation has been manufacturing bowling balls since the late 19th century, when the company introduced bowling balls made of vulcanised rubber. Over the years, Brunswick has released bowling balls made from a variety of materials, including polyester and urethane. The Strike King series, which includes the Strike King Black Pearl and the Strike King Blue/Red Pearl, is a retired line of bowling balls. While the specific materials used in the Strike King series are not publicly disclosed, Brunswick asserts that these balls are manufactured to the "highest standards of workmanship and material". The Strike King bowling balls are covered by a 1-year warranty, which guarantees that the balls will be free from defects for one year from the date of purchase.
The evolution of bowling balls has come a long way, from the ancient Egyptian stones to the wooden Lignum vitae balls, and then to the rubberised versions in the early 20th century. Brunswick played a pivotal role in this evolution, introducing rubberised bowling balls like the Mineralite, which were popular until the 1970s. The introduction of newer materials, such as polyester and urethane, marked a significant shift in the market, leading to the modern bowling balls we know today.
Today's bowling balls are meticulously designed with computer-aided technology, focusing on core composition and coverstock thickness. The innermost core, typically made of powdered metal oxides mixed with resin, is the heaviest part of the ball and has the most significant impact on its rotation. Cores can vary in shape, including lightbulb, spherical, elliptical, or a combination of these forms.
Once the core is crafted, it is placed inside a mould that serves as the coverstock. The coverstock material is then poured into the mould, hardening around the core. This process allows for variations in coverstock thickness, depending on the ball's intended use.
Brunswick's commitment to innovation and quality in bowling ball design has contributed to the company's longstanding presence in the industry. The Strike King series exemplifies this dedication, offering bowlers a combination of performance and durability backed by a comprehensive warranty.
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Brunswick's other products
The 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. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who originally intended to manufacture carriages. However, he soon became fascinated with billiards and the company began making billiard tables. Over the years, Brunswick expanded its product line to include a diverse range of items, including bowling balls, boating brands, yachts, pleasure boats, and fitness equipment.
Bowling Balls
Brunswick has a long history of manufacturing bowling balls, with the company popularising the use of manufactured materials such as vulcanised rubber and later, polyester and urethane. The Strike King™ Black Pearl is one of their bowling balls, manufactured to the highest standards of workmanship and material and comes with a one-year warranty.
Boating Brands
Brunswick owns several well-known boating brands, including Sea Ray, Boston Whaler, Bayliner, Mercury Marine, Attwood, Lund, and many others. The company has a strong presence in the boating industry, with its products and technologies designed to bring the joys of the water to life.
Yachts and Pleasure Boats
In the 1980s, Brunswick became a major maker of yachts and pleasure boats under brands including Bayliner, Boston Whaler, Maxum, Sea Ray, and Trophy. These boats are designed to provide a luxurious and enjoyable experience on the water.
Fitness Equipment
Brunswick also manufactures sporting and fitness equipment under brands such as Life Fitness, Hammer Strength, and Parabody. This includes a range of gym equipment and machines designed to help individuals improve their physical health and performance.
Billiards
As mentioned earlier, Brunswick found commercial success with its billiard tables, particularly in the late 1800s when the company became one of the leading billiard table manufacturers in the United States.
In addition to these products, Brunswick has also ventured into other industries throughout its history, including phonograph records, refrigerators, golfing equipment, and even military supplies during World War II.
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Brunswick's exit from the bowling business
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. The company was founded by John Moses Brunswick, who originally intended to manufacture carriages but soon became fascinated with billiards. The company expanded its product line to include bowling equipment and products in the 1880s, and by the early 1900s, they were producing bowling balls made of hard rubber.
Over the years, Brunswick's bowling business underwent several changes and expansions. They introduced new materials for bowling balls, such as polyester and urethane, and made significant design changes. In the 1950s, they introduced the first fully automatic pinsetter, revolutionising the bowling experience. However, by the mid-1960s, overexpansion led to a period of decline, and Brunswick started closing some of its factories.
In July 2014, Brunswick announced its intention to exit the bowling business by the end of the year, citing a desire to focus on its core Marine and Fitness businesses. The company sold its bowling center business to Bowlmor AMF (now known as Bowlero Corporation) for $270 million, completing the sale in September 2014. The bowling equipment and products division was sold to BlueArc Capital Management, a private investment firm, in May 2015, marking the completion of Brunswick's exit from the bowling business.
BlueArc continues to produce bowling balls under the Brunswick brand name, and in 2019, they acquired Ebonite International and its bowling product brands. While Brunswick no longer operates in the bowling business directly, its legacy lives on through the continued use of its brand name and the impact it had on the sport of bowling.
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Frequently asked questions
The exact materials used in the Sea Strike ball are not known, but it is likely to be made from urethane, which is the material used for most modern bowling balls.
In the past, most bowling balls were made from a very hard wood called Lignum vitae. By the early 1900s, rubber was incorporated into their design, with some balls using hard rubber. Polyester balls emerged after rubber bowling balls.
Nowadays, bowling balls are designed with computers and have carefully crafted and balanced cores. The innermost core is usually made of powdered metal oxides mixed with resin, which becomes the heaviest part of the ball. Once the core is created, it is placed inside a mould and the coverstock material is poured over it to harden.
Brunswick Corporation manufactures the Sea Strike ball. Brunswick has been manufacturing a wide variety of products since 1845 and currently has over 13,000 employees operating in 24 countries.
