From The sport of bowling has ancient roots, but became an nationally organized sport in the US for men in 1895 and for women in 1917. Bowling was popularized in the 1950's when television began broadcasting championship games.
1949-50 Zippo is
a very early examples of
the 1951-1959 Sports Series using color. The bowler has a red shirt and
black pants and the lighter has "Bob" engraved on the
reverse.
1946 line-drawn Sports Series Zippo
with the earliest depiction of the "Bowler".
1946-47 line-drawn Zippo with another
early bowler design.
1949-50
Zippo. This bowler has blue pants and white shirt which is rarer
than the red shirt variation.
1958 slim Zippo
with a bowler. The slim Zippo models were introduced in 1956.
1960 slim Zippo
with a lady bowler with blue skirt white blouse and black
hair.
1960 slim Zippo
with a lady bowler green. This bowler has a green
skirt.
1962 slim Zippo with a lady bowler with blue skirt, white blouse and
brown hair.
1962 slim Zippo
with lady bowler with blue skirt white blouse black hair
slim.
1966 slim
Zippo with lade bowler with blue skirt white blouse and black
hair.
Nice looking 1969
Zippo with crossed bowling pins and the word
"bowling".
1962 slim Zippo
with a lady bowler blue skirt, yellow blouse and black hair. The
reverse reads " Women's Penna Bowling Tournament 1963, Allentown
PA".
1965 full-size
bowler Zippo with lanyard and $5.00 price tag.
Nice looking 1969
Zippo with crossed bowling pins and the word
"bowling".
