Pool fever. Got my first Gold Crown.

[Katipunan]

Purchased my very first Gold Crown last week for $660 from Ebay, it is a Gold Crown III. I sold my antique Madison table to find a commercial table, and now I found it, just can't tell you how great of a shape it was. Cannot wait to replace the cushions and cloth. It was quite a trek though, since I was coming from VA and the table was in CT, so I rented a Uhaul to pick it up, brought my wife, son and grandaughter with me for the road trip and we enjoyed every minute of it. The table came from a residential home, the people that owned and sold it to me were very hospitable and helpful, don't see that very often anymore. But anyway, here is a picture of it.

 

[ArizonaPete]

Absolutely beautiful. Looks like you got the perfect table. Good luck and enjoy your purchase.

 

[ROB.M]

glod crown

Purchased my very first Gold Crown last week for $660 from Ebay, it is a Gold Crown III. I sold my antique Madison table to find a commercial table, and now I found it, just can't tell you how great of a shape it was. Cannot wait to replace the cushions and cloth. It was quite a trek though, since I was coming from VA and the table was in CT, so I rented a Uhaul to pick it up, brought my wife, son and grandaughter with me for the road trip and we enjoyed every minute of it. The table came from a residential home, the people that owned and sold it to me were very hospitable and helpful, don't see that very often anymore. But anyway, here is a picture of it.

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your gonna love it....looks like u went with aramith cloth?

 

[fsarfino]

Enjoy your new table ! you got a good deal on that too

 

[Vahmurka]

congratulations on a great deal! If I could buy such table for $700 here I even might have given up the idea of building one myself
Enjoy every minute at the table now.

 

[Katipunan]

Reconditioning GC III

Thanks for all the positive comments! Started reconditioning the table. Extended the subrails and getting ready to install new Superspeed cushions. In addition, I am also stripping down the aprons and ball box to refinish it. I will be picking up Simonis 860 for it next week. Here are some pictures.

 

[xianmacx]

Great looking table and a heck of a deal. Are you a mechanic? Is that your first go at extending the subrails? Looks good!

 

[9 on the snap]

Welcome to the club!:wink:

 

[Katipunan]

Thanks. I'm not a table mechanic, it's a hobby. I wish I was though and have the skill like everyone does here. It is the second time I extended subrails, I did it on my antique table for which I sold to purchase this GC. Here is a picture of the antique Madison table I used to own. I loved this table, It had Championship Tour Edition cloth on it and played real well.

 

[Katipunan]

Slowly but surely.

Before anything else, I would like to thank all the table mechanics here on Az for sharing all your knowledge with special mention to the RealKingCobra.
Cushion and facings have been glued. Corner pockets are at an angle of 142 degrees and side pockets at 103 degrees. Opening for the corner pockets are 4 5/16 while side pockets are 4 13/16.
Stripped and sanded aprons and ball box, getting ready to stain and finish. Can anyone tell me the wood stain color of GC III's so I can match the color?
Slowly but surely I am getting there, just got to do some research how to glue Simonis instead of stapling. More pictures to come.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone!

 

[bayoublaster400]

Beautiful table and you did a hell of a job with those extensions!

 

[Katipunan]

Finally done!

Completed the GC this evening. I'm glad I don't do this for a living otherwise I'd be broke. My son and I played a few games, and he schooled me, I had a good excuse though, I told him my fingers and knuckles still hurt from stretching the Simonis. The table playes like a champ, I am looking forward for the cloth to be broken in. Thank you all for the wealth of information you have contributed on this forum! Here are some pictures.

 

[Katipunan]

Here are some more pics.

 

[PoolTable911]

Great job Chief!! Table looks fantastic.:thumbup:

 

[MortalZin]

GC vs. Madison

Katipunan:

Greetings, I'm a rookie to this forum and an all around C+ player who enjoys reading other people's mail.

Super impressive job on that recently acquired GC, but must admit I really began to salivate when I saw the photo of the antique Madison.

Not totally sure this post will find you, but if successful, may I ask a half-dozen questions regarding your old table?

I'll stop here and hopefully re-post if I hear a response.

MortalZin
Lodi, CA

 

[Dartman]

Great job Chief!! Table looks fantastic.:thumbup:

and only 1 spot :grin:

 

[PoolTable911]

and only 1 spot :grin:

yeah yeah... i see..lol

 

[Katipunan]

Antique Madison

Katipunan:

Greetings, I'm a rookie to this forum and an all around C+ player who enjoys reading other people's mail.

Super impressive job on that recently acquired GC, but must admit I really began to salivate when I saw the photo of the antique Madison.

Not totally sure this post will find you, but if successful, may I ask a half-dozen questions regarding your old table?

I'll stop here and hopefully re-post if I hear a response.

MortalZin
Lodi, CA

I myself am a rookie. I'll try to answer any questions you may have about the Madison table, just send me a PM. Thanks for everyones compliment on the work. It is very tedious, it has given me a newfound respect for the knowledge and skill of the real table mechanics.

 

[MortalZin]

Rookie to Rookie

Katipuna:

I've been playing on a 9' billiard version (no pockets) of your Madison, on an infrequent basis, for over a year. Table still carries the antique plate with a manufacture date of 1917. It came with the old house bought by a friend.

Crazy about the look of the old, straight-leg, floor to slate tables, this one in particular, but I'll have to have one with pockets for myself. Yours is a dead-ringer for his table, yours of course with pockets.

Questions:

1. What differences do you notice (other than the look) of the GC vs. the Madison?
2. Do you notice the GC has a better roll with less vibration, a different "thunk" when the cushion is struck?
3. Does it play truer, faster, or in any way more professionally or enjoyably than the Madison?

The main drawback I notice on the Madison is the T-rail construction, or maybe I just know enough to be dangerous. What are your thoughts?

There are few new tables out there that offer that older, straight-leg, floor to slate construction. Connelly offers the Chiricahua with 1.25" slate (the Ultimate version has 2" and six legs, and yes I'm considering it). Olhausen offers both the Huntington and the Remington. Not interested in much from Brunswick, though I recognize their quality table is pretty much the GCV. The Diamond Pro? Well. Not really looking for that commercial look.

Obviously I like the look of your old table, but want the playability of a newer table. Probably won't be able to get it all in one package.

If you could address the above questions and further comment about your experiences with the T-rail issues, I would most appreciate it. Like I said, the drool factor kicked in when I caught a shot of your old Madison.

Sincerely,

MortalZin
Lodi, CA

 

[Katipunan]

Antique vs Modern

The reason I sold the Madison was to re-create the playing conditions here in our local poolrooms. The Madison table played great for its age but did not do it for me. The pocket shelf of the Madison was shallow so regardless of my extending its subrails and tightening its pockets, balls still went in when it shouldn't have. I was fortunate that the slate bolts for the Madison was in good condition which allowed me to torque the T-rails tight to keep it from vibrating when struck by a ball. However, the major issue I had with my T-rails was cracks where the pocket iron is inserted, this is due to age and the amount of stress it has absorbed thoughout the years. In addition, T-rails seem much taller compared to the wider and angled rails of modern tables. All in all, yes the GC feels it plays more professional than the Madison. Playability, and enjoyment, I am sure that a good table mechanic that knows what he or she is doing can make any antique play like a champ.

I myself would love to have a Diamond ProAm, but for the price nothing beats the GC I purchased. You can never go wrong with a GC. If you are interested on a good home table, check out Diamond home tables, they used one as a TV table in the US Open, in my opinion it looked beautiful. Hope this helps and good luck on your search.