Abstract: An automatic bowling pin setting apparatus for setting pins in a given pattern upon a pin deck at the end of a bowling lane, said apparatus comprising a set up frame adapted to be moved up and down above the pin deck by means of racks and pinions meshing therewith, said racks being mounted on columns mounted laterally and in which frame pin bins are bearing-mounted according to said pattern for tilting movement between a horizontal pin pick-up position and a vertical pin put-down position, said apparatus further comprising an assembly of substantially horizontal conveyors for distributing the pins to the pin bins and an elevator for supplying the distribution conveyors with pins knocked down and removed from the pin deck by a sweep barrier, wherein the driving gears of the set up frame (10) and the sweep barrier (6) are separated and the set up frame motor (15) drives the pinions (13), the set up frame (10) being supported in its upward movement by air ram cylinders (17) and the sweep barrier (6) being so con