AMF Corp.

AMF was founded in New York in 1900 as American Machine and Foundry, a manufacturer of industrial equipment for the tobacco industry. After World War II the company moved into the sport of bowling and AMF automated bowling equipment and bowling centers became profitable business ventures. During the late 1960s AMF expanded into other leisure based industries including Hatteras, Slickcraft, and Crestliner power boats, as well as Alcort sailboats. In 1985, a Minnesota-based company called Minstar, Inc. bought the company, recognized that bowling was its biggest strength and sold off most of the other divisions. In 2009 the company was owned by a Chicago‑based private investment firm Code Hennessy and Simmons, LLC. and maintained its brand association with bowling. AMF filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in November 2012. It merged with Bowlmar and, along with Brunswick Corp., became Bowlmar AMF. (last edit 4/2017)