Good advice in this thread. To each his own on preference. I personally like the CCoin bowlers from the early 60's the best. My favorite switch model is the Majestic. My favorite contact bowler that blows them all away is the MBA/Bowlarama by United. I have owned over 100 bowlers and nothing comes close to the MBA/Bowlarama. Don't get me wrong, the switch style has some fun games you can't get on a contact bowler like Flash and are definitely worth owning but once you play a Bowlarama it's all over. I am working on 5 of them right now (see pic of my basement of 3 of them). Score reels were froze stiff and same with pinsetters. I currently have the pinsetters off the Bowlarama's and am going through them now. I fun project that takes ALOT of time.

Bowlarama MBA Bowlers (resized).jpg

I've owned both and found the Bally very easy and boring compared to Bowlarama. That's why I sold the Bally contact and kept my MBA. Regarding parts, the pins and all chains are now available to buy new and these new ones seem impossible to break. What parts are hard to find on Bowlarama? All backglasses are available, it's basically united guts. I am rebuilding one now and I think parts are easier now than they were a few years ago.