While I know (from your videos) that the A2s are maintenance heavy nightmares when neglected, they seem like well engineered machines with a lot of care into their design with all of their castings, forgings and stamped components. These GSX machines on the other hand look kinda' cheap and "shop built" with plastic components instead of stampings, simple bent steel weldments instead of castings and off the shelf square bar stock rods instead of more "engineered" forgings. They don't seem to break down too often though, so I guess they did a good enough job. Not sure if there will be any running in 60 years like A2s though.
The A and A2 machines are amazing pieces of engineering. They do run well when properly taken care of. Just like every other piece of equipment! However, production costs for very specific and robust vintage equipment have become quite expensive. Manufacturers are beginning to opt for producing other things that they can make in larger quantities at a lower cost. This is one of many reasons these machines are becoming rarer. Newer equipment is less expensive to produce and works just as efficiently, if not better. Extremely well maintained GS pinsetters will perform at higher levels than A/A2 machines. String machines are even less expensive and do not require a highly skilled technician to dial everything in perfectly and troubleshoot extremely intricate processes.
While I know (from your videos) that the A2s are maintenance heavy nightmares when neglected, they seem like well engineered machines with a lot of care into their design with all of their castings, forgings and stamped components.
These GSX machines on the other hand look kinda' cheap and "shop built" with plastic components instead of stampings, simple bent steel weldments instead of castings and off the shelf square bar stock rods instead of more "engineered" forgings. They don't seem to break down too often though, so I guess they did a good enough job. Not sure if there will be any running in 60 years like A2s though.
The A and A2 machines are amazing pieces of engineering. They do run well when properly taken care of. Just like every other piece of equipment!
However, production costs for very specific and robust vintage equipment have become quite expensive. Manufacturers are beginning to opt for producing other things that they can make in larger quantities at a lower cost.
This is one of many reasons these machines are becoming rarer. Newer equipment is less expensive to produce and works just as efficiently, if not better. Extremely well maintained GS pinsetters will perform at higher levels than A/A2 machines. String machines are even less expensive and do not require a highly skilled technician to dial everything in perfectly and troubleshoot extremely intricate processes.
Plastic! No!
But it was the metal that shifted, not the plastic! Lol!
@@michaelbuckley3808 I know I'm antiquated but I cringe every time I see an HDPE part.