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Above, a Wikimedia photo of a typical candlepin bowling image
Candlepin bowling is a variation of bowling that is played primarily in the Canadian Maritime provinces and the New England region of the United States, such as at Ryan Family Amusements in Millis. It is played with tall, narrow pins that resemble candles and a handheld-sized ball.
A primary supplier of those balls, profiled in the most recent issue of Worcester Business Journal, is in Medway.
E. Parrella Co. Inc. (EPCO), a longtime Medway manufacturer, continues to produce candlepin bowling balls, industrial balls and a variety of other products at its facility on Alder Street.
The company was founded in 1952 by Emilio Parrella, who had previously spent much of his career working in the rubber industry. Drawing on that experience, Parrella initially developed formulations and processes for repairing and refinishing bowling balls before moving into the manufacture of new products.
After several years of research and development, EPCO introduced its Paramount brand bowling ball in 1960. Designed for small-ball bowling, the Paramount line was notable at the time for offering bowling balls in a wider range of colors and styles.
The family-owned company has continued under Parrella's sons, John, Richard and Robert, and over the years expanded beyond its original bowling products.
EPCO's manufacturing capabilities, particularly its ability to produce molded and machined products to close tolerances, led the company into a variety of other markets. Its products have included industrial balls, shift knobs, golf tee markers, bocce balls, billiard balls, miniature bowling balls, and sheet and rod materials.
More than seven decades after its founding, EPCO continues to manufacture products in Medway and serves customers in recreational, commercial and industrial markets. The company remains one of the area's longstanding examples of family-owned manufacturing.
Think about that, next time you handle a bowling ball!
