Brunswick Convertible?

[jschelin99]

A friend just bought an old Brunswick pool table on Craigslist. He thought he was buying a 9-footer. Once he got there, he discovered it's a 10-footer. He was disappointed because it's not what he wanted, but it was a good price and a long drive, so he figured he'd load it up and bring it home.

Before they started breaking it down, they discovered something very odd: it's a convertible table. Under the middle of each rail is a metal lever to disconnect the rails (you can barely see the lever in the second picture under the Brunswick label). Other rails can be attached, so that the table can be changed from a pool table, to a snooker table, to a billiard table.

Anybody know anything about these tables? I can get more info from him if need be. He just wants to know what the heck he's got.

Thanks!

 

[Mr. Bond]

does the lever to release the rails look like it once had a wooden knob at the end?

and what direction(s) do you move the lever to release the rails?

 

[Mr. Bond]

actually, if you could just post a close-up pic of the lever/mechanism, that would be best.

 

[jschelin99]

I'm waiting to here back from him about some misc info about the table (year, model, markings underneath, etc.)

I'll ask him those specific questions.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Just so you know, 'convertable' tables were not all that uncommon. But most didn't have a 'lever system'.

Typically a convertable table was simply made in such a way that you could remove the 'pocket billiard' rails, and replace them with carom or snooker rails, in same manner that you would install them regularly.

 

[jschelin99]

Ok, I heard back from my friend. The only info he has is that the table is a Vestal made by Brunswick-Balke-Collender. I'm assuming Vestal is the model name?

With the exception of the dark brown wooden rails, all the main framework is steel. The legs and skirting are just painted to look like wood.

The levers didn't/do not have wooden knobs, they are solid metal, possibly cast iron. The levers pull out to the right 1/4 turn to release the rails.

 

[Mr. Bond]

From what I understand thus far, Brunswick had two primary steel table models, "The Vestal" and The one I cant remember the name of at the moment. (I'll look it up)

The Vestal Steel looks like this (circa 1916): click here
So, yours is clearly not The Vestal, its the 'other' steel table by Brunswick.

Antique steel tables in general are somewhat rare. Not super-rare but somewhat rare because they were only made for a few short years.

Yours in particular is interesting because it has the even more rare "crank off" rail system.
This particular rail system was actually designed and patented in 1915 by a man named Axel F. Hjort, who was a close friend and one-time business partner of none other than Herman Rambow.

(and yes, the crank used to have a wooden knob at the end )

You can see the patent for these rails by clicking here

 

[3kushn]

Mr. Bond Doesn't the inlayed nameplate designate a custom table? Read that somewhere.

 

[jschelin99]

Very good info, thanks. If you run across the other steel table name, that would be cool.

 

[Dartman]

... Doesn't the inlayed nameplate designate a custom table? Read that somewhere.

A lot of table manufacturers rout out a section of a rail for their nameplate
so it's not a custom thing..

 

[Mr. Bond]

Mr. Bond Doesn't the inlayed nameplate designate a custom table? Read that somewhere.

If you're talking about the nameplate as a whole, being flush with the rail, that was standard procedure.

If you're talking about the nameplate having the brunswick name inlaid - then thats a good question. I don't really know.

But I can find out.

 

[Mr. Bond]

Very good info, thanks. If you run across the other steel table name, that would be cool.

can you (or your friend) look around on the table frame (probably not on the legs) for a sticker or stamp that indicates who fabricated the steel?
(brunswick had someone else do it)

it will probably say one of three things:
"Armco Steel"
"Sykes Steel"
or
"Union Made"

I'm trying to gather more facts about these particular tables so I'd like to verify who did the steel work, if possible.

And - When it comes time to have the cushions replaced, if its convenient, please let me know what kind of cushions are currently on the table. (depending on who made them, it will tell you how long its been since they were last replaced)

definitely an interesting table, and a lucky score.

 

[Dartman]

If you're talking about the nameplate as a whole, being flush with the rail, that was standard procedure.

If you're talking about the nameplate having the brunswick name inlaid - then thats a good question. I don't really know.

But I can find out.

I think he may have been thinking the lettering alone was done as an inlay on the rail.
Classic Billiards carries replacement nameplates as shown here -

 

[jschelin99]

Mr. Bond: I'll have him look for some kind of mark on the steel framework.

Thanks!

 

[jschelin99]

No labels, stampings or markings anywhere that he can find.

Anybody have a value estimate? Anybody interested in buying it?

 

[RackemBilliards]

I worked on a Brunswick Pfister with this rail design some years back. It was a 9 foot table with pool and carom rails that were stored in their own custom wooden box. It's the only one I've ever seen, and I remember thinking that it was a cool design, but I was skeptical that it could be solid enough for optimum playability. I could certainly be wrong about that. I have no idea about the value of yours, but it's a neat collectible.

 

[Dartman]

No labels, stampings or markings anywhere that he can find. Anybody have a value estimate? Anybody interested in buying it?

I'd suggest you contact Classic Billiards or Blatt Billiards and see if they can place a value on the table.

 

[3kushn]

I think he may have been thinking the lettering alone was done as an inlay on the rail.
Classic Billiards carries replacement nameplates as shown here -

That is correct. I didn't look at this one close enough. It appears to be like the bottom one in your post. Not inlayed lettering in the rail.

 

[Mr. Bond]

just for kicks and giggles i did a little digging on the ARMCO steel company.

(they produced the stamped-steel pieces for the Vestal, so i would presume that they probably made the pieces for the other steel brunswick table as well)

ironically, according to their own company history, the ARMCO steel company claims that they didn't officially adopt the ARMCO name until 1948. (From: American Rolling Mill Co. )

i'm wondering if someone just mis-typed something, or if they really are missing 30 years of their company's history. i think i'll drop them a line and see what they say.

 

[Mr. Bond]

jschelin99:

'Your table' is called 'The Sterling' , aka the Sterling Steel.
Brunswick has some information about it on their website: Click here

The rail system was apparently called the "Eureka" rail system.

Both the Sterling and the Vestal were based off of the same basic framework, that was designed by a man named Theodore Treiber.
Treiber designed steel tables for several companies, including Brunswick, and was well known in the industry.

You can see Treiber's patent for the Vestal (same underframe as the Sterling) by clicking here

This is Mr. Treiber himself, as he appeared in 1924:

In the caption it mentions the "Art Steel" table. This was yet another table designed by Treiber for the JC McFarland table co.