Bowling

1950s
Wood
© Musée de la civilisation, 93-437-1

This small colourful bowling game for children was manufactured by Allen Wood Products in Fenelon Falls, Ontario.

The origins of bowling are obscure. The game is believed to have originated in Egypt, but is most probably a German invention as a 13th-century German text makes mention of it. It was believed that the number of pins the monks failed to knock over represented the number of sins they had failed to confess.

The game was introduced to North America in the 18th century by Dutch immigrants who played this game using a ball with finger holes.

CHILDHOOD MEMORIES Share your childhood memories associated with this game or toy Take a look at the testimonies list

Am working to contact someone who knows the history of Allen Wood Toys in Fenelon Falls. it is for the website: antiquetoycollections.info my email is home1@rpmpizza.com Richard

Richard , 59 year old   Long Beach, MS USA

Folks: My Father (William) and Uncle (James) ran Allen Wood Products in Fenelon Falls up until 1972. I have some of the toys but very few. If anyone has Allen Toy's I would be interested in hearing from them. Thanks, Bob Allen

robert , 59 year old   Lindsay Canada

We had a wooden set of bowling pins. They weren't colored but just varnished wood. We had a long hallway in our house and my brother and I would play with them for hours. they must have made a lot of noise!

Christine , 59 year old   St.Catharines Canada

When I left school in 1962 I worked for Allen Wood Products in Fenelon Falls Ontario. We made many wood toys, croquet sets etc.

Douglas , 63 year old   Surrey BC Canada

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