Skip to main content Smithsonian Institution

Mechanical Drawing for the Development of the Bowling Pin Setting Machine

Catalog Data

Physical Description:
paper (overall material)
Measurements:
overall: 18 in x 20 in; 45.72 cm x 50.8 cm
Object Name:
drawing, mechanical
Description (Brief):
Mechanical drawing, labeled "118" used in the development of the bowling pin setting machine developed by the donor's grandfather, Fred Schmidt. In the late 1930s, Schmidt patented "a method for picking up and re-setting bowling pins through the use of mechanical suction cups." Schmidt first went to the Brunswick Corporation but was turned away. Without financial backing, Schmidt sold the rights to his invention and American Machine (AMF) bought the patents. It took them until 1951 to perfect the design and create the first pin setting machine based on Schmidt's patented design.
Location:
Currently not on view
Web subject:
Sports  Search this
Invention  Search this
Name of sport:
Bowling  Search this
Level of sport:
recreational  Search this
Credit Line:
Keith Schmidt
ID Number:
1997.0306.04.04
Accession number:
1997.0306
Catalog number:
1997.0306.04.04
See more items in:
Culture and the Arts: Sport and Leisure
Data Source:
National Museum of American History
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-4bfa-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nmah_1764416