Jobs That No Longer Exist Today- #11
By DB
@dgobucks226 (36490)
November 4, 2020 3:23pm CST
A continuing series on interesting/strange occupations gone due to societal and technological changes.
BOWLING ALLEY PINSETTER
Prior to the invention of the automated pin setter device young men and teenagers did the job of manually resetting pins. During the 20th century before the advent of automation, it was a pinsetter's job to manually clear and replace bowling pins and make sure bowling balls got back to their rightful owner after a frame. Today, machines set bowling pins back in their original positions, returns bowling balls to the front of the alley, in addition to clearing fallen pins on the pin deck.
Although the pinsetter job has become obsolete, humans are still needed to make sure the equipment is working properly and to clear minor jams to assist the machines. These assistants are referred to as a "pin monkey."
The first mechanical pinsetter was invented by Gottfried (Fred) Schmidt, who sold the patent in 1941 to AMF.
I imagine bowling a frame required long wait times as the "Pinboys" manually cleared away the pins and set them on the proper marks. Pinsetting seems like a good way for teenage boys to earn money back in those days. Of course, avoiding bowling balls thrown by customers might be a hazard of this job.
What are your thoughts? Would you have tried this physical and potentially dangerous kind of job? Have you ever been to a bowling center without automated pinsetting machines? Do you enjoy bowling? Ever join a bowling league? What is your highest bowling score? Mine was 222 a very lucky day indeed for someone with a 140 average! 
Comment on whatever questions you like...
Source- Wikipedia & Best Life
Photo- liberaldictionary.com
Comment on whatever questions you like...
Source- Wikipedia & Best Life
Photo- liberaldictionary.com14 people like this
13 responses
@kaylachan (77523)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
4 Nov 20
I haven't bowled in a long time and never joined a bowling league. Not because I don't/didn't enjoy the sport, but because I never had reliable transportation or support from my family. That's another story I'd rather not get into. Growing up, I would bowl occasionally if my family wanted to go. And, the lanes I used had the machines that sent balls back and reset the pins. My school also had two bowling lanes, and if they worked it was always hit-or-miss. My coach would either have us use the lane that worked, or he would take a gym mat to block off the lane and stack the pins in front of it. This way, the balls wouldn't become trapped. Mind you, I attended school in the 80's and 90's. Having a two-lane bowling ally in a school wasn't something you heard of. But since my school was a boarding school, they tried to have a bit of everything for students.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
7 Nov 20
I use to bother my Dad during the winter most Sundays to take us bowling. Most times we did not go but what fun on the occasion he said yes! Of course, as a kid you don't realize how tired your Dad must of been after 6 days of work and getting up at 6 AM each day. Anyway, I always wondered about those workers hidden at the back of the lane. Occasionally you would see a hand push the pins to the side gutter when the machine broke down and they had to fix it. Then you knew someone was back there 
Yes, having a bowling alley in the school is unique. Thanks for sharing, very interesting!
Yes, having a bowling alley in the school is unique. Thanks for sharing, very interesting!1 person likes this
@kaylachan (77523)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
7 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 My school has been around well over 100 years. I think we're coming around to 175. So, perhaps, there was a time having one was popular? But, it was still fun. Now, I wonder where my bowling ball went, or how I'd do it from a wheelchair and being blind.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
10 Nov 20
@kaylachan Good point about schools possibly having a bowling alley during those times.
1 person likes this
@much2say (57559)
• Los Angeles, California
4 Nov 20
I was one of those when my kids used to play with their plastic bowling set in the kitchen 
.
That's how it used to be - oh gosh, the games probably took forever! My dad used to be in a league, so we'd always be going to a bowling alley as a kid. I have always been terrible at bowling . . . except on bowling video games .
.
That's how it used to be - oh gosh, the games probably took forever! My dad used to be in a league, so we'd always be going to a bowling alley as a kid. I have always been terrible at bowling . . . except on bowling video games .1 person likes this
@much2say (57559)
• Los Angeles, California
9 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 Oh my gosh, my kids love to play bowling on the Wii!! I may have had it on my Atari (another memory 
). Do you ever go "real" bowling?
). Do you ever go "real" bowling?1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
7 Nov 20
Glad my post brought back a fun memory. My brother and I had those plastic pins too. We created a bowling alley in our basement. Now, I have bowling on my Wii to play 
Both my parents bowled in the Church league. A very social and enjoyable activity bowling 
Both my parents bowled in the Church league. A very social and enjoyable activity bowling 1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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10 Nov 20
@much2say I have not for a long time. I have a iffy back at times but I do enjoy it enough to someday take a chance
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (94612)
• Arvada, Colorado
4 Jun 21
I remember reading about a person that was a human alarm clock in Dublin Ireland a million years ago..they would go through the street and wake people in the tenement buildings.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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5 Jun 21
Yes, they were called Knocker-Ups. The job was invented in 1847 with people being hired to shoot peas through a pea shooter or knock on windows with long poles. A dangerous job if you knocked on a window of a guy who had a night at the pubs!
He was kind of like the town crier but without the tears
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (474351)
• Italy
8 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 That was the dangerous part, also those who throw the ball not knowing to throw straight.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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7 Nov 20
Quite of bit of standing around waiting for the ball to hit the pins before you could reset them. And if someone threw the ball while they were putting up the pins "look out."
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84626)
• United States
11 Nov 20
That wouldn't have been a job for me but I did enjoy bowling. I was never a high scorer but bowled for fun
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (84626)
• United States
11 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 it was s good way to spend time and have fun
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
11 Nov 20
I understand. A very tedious job. I always enjoyed bowling. Getting a strike would always put a smile on my face, lol.
1 person likes this
@just4him (318816)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
8 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 That's great you were into it in high school. It sounds like you were a family of bowlers.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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10 Nov 20
@just4him Yes, we all enjoyed it at one time or other.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
7 Nov 20
My Dad was also the best bowler of my family. My Mom was not bad. She had a 122 average. When I was in Junior High School I would go to our local alley to bowl after school. I had my own ball and bag and was really into it!
1 person likes this
@Letranknight2015 (52263)
• Philippines
5 Nov 20
That's the sad part of technology, it takes away people's jobs. wow if only i had a job like that for starters.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
7 Nov 20
I think this job might of been fun to do initially but I would have gotten bored having to do the same exact thing over and over. I agree with you that with some jobs technology can cause someone to have to find another career.
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
7 Nov 20
Interesting? I've heard the term candle pins but am not sure what they are exactly. Are they used the same way as bowling?
@RasmaSandra (85027)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
5 Nov 20
I have heard about this job. I know it would not apply today but I had once thought that perhaps some of the jobs that no longer exist could be adjusted to today's standards in some way to give people more choices of jobs,
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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7 Nov 20
With later automation workers were still at the back of the alley hidden away loading the machine with pins. In addition, there were jobs for workers to fix any malfunctions in those machines. Which happened regularly enough from my bowling experiences So this job was not entirely eliminated.. I think even with technology and machines humans are still needed in some way.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (109744)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
8 Nov 20
I remember seeing the pin setters working picking up the pins at the Balboa bowling center in Balboa Panama.
These days the bowling alley is now Niko's Cafe.
1 person likes this
@Deepizzaguy (109744)
• Lake Charles, Louisiana
9 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 I have seen that as well with the updated bowling alleys.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
•
8 Nov 20
Wow! That must of been some sight Now with technology workers are hidden at the back of the lane behind a wall. Occasionally you would see a hand push the pins to the side gutter when the machine broke down temporarily and they had to fix it. Then you knew someone was back there
Now with technology workers are hidden at the back of the lane behind a wall. Occasionally you would see a hand push the pins to the side gutter when the machine broke down temporarily and they had to fix it. Then you knew someone was back there1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188720)
• United States
5 Nov 20
I remember the pinsetters that had to put the pins back into a frame that they manually raised and lowered. I belonged to a league but was a terrible bowler!
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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7 Nov 20
Yes, even with later automation workers were still at the back of the alley hidden away loading the machine with pins. Bowling did require focusing on your target didn't it!
1 person likes this
@LindaOHio (188720)
• United States
8 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 Yes, it did; and I was lousy at it! lololol
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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7 Nov 20
Did you mean fun? Just kidding. It would not be fun for those workers if someone threw a ball while they were resetting the pins. The technology of the ball machines sped up the game and kept those workers safe. A good thing But I agree, not the best of jobs.
But I agree, not the best of jobs.1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54400)
• United States
11 Nov 20
my grandfather was a really good bowler. He took me to the alley where he lived it was still manual. The nuanced differences in the game are incredible - at the time my average was around 110. (I was 9 ish) and I bowled 20 pins higher for three games on the manual set.
1 person likes this
@dgobucks226 (36490)
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11 Nov 20
Incredible to have been able to bowl on a manual lane. Strange how the manual set was more forgiving than the automated one?
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54400)
• United States
11 Nov 20
@dgobucks226 actually not really, the manual was more likely to have a slightly imperfect placement
1 person likes this
