New owner of 2 Brunswick Anniversaries, but...

[Hack]

Greetings:

I recently came into two Brunswick Anniversary Tables for a heck of a deal via Michigan State University's recently demolished Student Union Building, and now have a few questions regarding one of them.

The first one is pretty cut and dry, it is like all the one's I've seen on the internet, i.e. is finished in a darker stain and has the white striping on the Aprons. They had 9 of these models, all similar, some with ball returns and others without. Mine is without.

The second one, however, is not like the rest I've seen on the internet. Perhaps there are a lot of them out there and I am just sheltered, which I initially assumed, because they had 9 of these on hand as well. Anyway, they were all a light color on the aprons and legs, with no grooves or striping of any kind, and a much darker stain on the rails. I at first assumed this was some type of re-conditioning done over the years until I was shown a picture of the tables when they were brand new, in the late 40's, by the guy in charge of the sale.

Is this just a lesser model? Like I said, there were nine of them, all identical, done in an oak color finish on the aprons and a dark mahogany finish on the rails, no stripes, just smooth. All purchased in the late 40's.

Any insight is appreciated as I venture toward reconditioning them both.

Josh

 

[realkingcobra]

Greetings:

I recently came into two Brunswick Anniversary Tables for a heck of a deal via Michigan State University's recently demolished Student Union Building, and now have a few questions regarding one of them.

The first one is pretty cut and dry, it is like all the one's I've seen on the internet, i.e. is finished in a darker stain and has the white striping on the Aprons. They had 9 of these models, all similar, some with ball returns and others without. Mine is without.

The second one, however, is not like the rest I've seen on the internet. Perhaps there are a lot of them out there and I am just sheltered, which I initially assumed, because they had 9 of these on hand as well. Anyway, they were all a light color on the aprons and legs, with no grooves or striping of any kind, and a much darker stain on the rails. I at first assumed this was some type of re-conditioning done over the years until I was shown a picture of the tables when they were brand new, in the late 40's, by the guy in charge of the sale.

Is this just a lesser model? Like I said, there were nine of them, all identical, done in an oak color finish on the aprons and a dark mahogany finish on the rails, no stripes, just smooth. All purchased in the late 40's.

Any insight is appreciated as I venture toward reconditioning them both.

Josh

Something to think about, the side pocket castings didn't come out on the Anniversary table until the 50's, earlier models joined at the side pocket with a wood dowel...so, whats shown in the pictures is not from the 40's

 

[Hack]

Hmmm...

That's strange, because the date of purchase on the bill of sale at the University for those 9 tables, as well as the date listed on file for this Photograph, was 1949.

I'll have to dig in at the University for a more in depth explanation.

Have you ever seen a non-striped Anniversary?

 

[realkingcobra]

That's strange, because the date of purchase on the bill of sale at the University for those 9 tables, as well as the date listed on file for this Photograph, was 1949.

I'll have to dig in at the University for a more in depth explanation.

Have you ever seen a non-striped Anniversary?

Looks like the top of the rails are formica, what's the material?

 

[ROB.M]

Table

The top of the legs are stamped/marked model.
The first anni rails had 3 hole nut plates,the second round had 5 hole plates and the last round of anni's had the figure 8 nut plates.

Hope this helps.

Rob.M

 

[Hack]

Rails

The rails are solid wood, stained dark. Looks like mahogany or poplar? Not real sure, just know that they're real wood.

The picture does make them look solid colored, almost like they used a red filter or something when taking the pic, as the contrast isn't quite so dramatic.

I'll check the hole patterns tomorrow.

 

[realkingcobra]

The rails are solid wood, stained dark. Looks like mahogany or poplar? Not real sure, just know that they're real wood.

The picture does make them look solid colored, almost like they used a red filter or something when taking the pic, as the contrast isn't quite so dramatic.

I'll check the hole patterns tomorrow.

Then the top of the rails are finished in Walnut. The rail blinds always had the strip lines as well, that's the look of the Anniversary, the could have had the rail skirts replaced a long time ago though:smile:

 

[Hack]

They said

They said they had no record of them being refinished, but I suppose that's as easy as them losing the records or something. All of the earliest photos show them with no apron lines, though, so I'm intrigued. I personally like the look a lot less, but have never seen one until I saw nine.

It makes me wonder if they were some kind of institutional/stripped down model of the Anniversary. Everything else is the same, sans the color and the apron lines.

Either way, I'll take some pictures of the actual disassembled tables tomorrow and post back. Should have at least one of them reassembled/built up by Friday.

 

[Mr. Bond]

 

[Mr. Bond]

Here is the Anni design patent

And here is the assembly manual

 

[trentfromtoledo]

just a question

Model C is the one with no side pocket casting or leg stretcher and the castings are white. I have restored(but made it look like a d-c) one shown here: http://forums.azbilliards.com/album.php?albumid=1481&pictureid=9924. I have 2- model C-I's in inventory w/ side pocket casting & all of the castings are white, so is the band around the legs. I was told by Ken Hash that this model is actually pre-50's. Model D-C marked the post 50's model D-C correct? Just trying to make sure I am correct in my history! Thanks

Trent

 

[Dave]

Brunswick Sportsman rails

I came across a Brunswick Sportsman within the last year.
It had the rail profile of an Anniversary, but they were not walnut.
I believe the rails were [most likely] stained poplar, or [possibly] maple.
It had 8 ball plates, the same pocket castings as a Sport King, and was stenciled Sportsman Model D-C on the underside of the rails.
The name plate was the earlier "stick man".
I was thinking of swapping out my Anniversary's laminate rails for walnut ones. Upon eyeballing the table.... oh well!

Check one:
O This information clarifies.
O This information muddies the water.

 

[trentfromtoledo]

I am in the process of doing the same thing!

I have a 9 foot sport king w/ walnut AND the cool game counters in the rails and mine actually say anniv / sportking on them : http://forums.azbilliards.com/album.php?albumid=1481&pictureid=11281, its a nice way to make the cheaper Anniversary model d-c into the nicer version!

Trent from Toledo

 

[Hack]

Thanks for the info! I really appreciate the instruction manual as I hadn't come across one yet. And, those pics seem to be quite similar to what I'm working with. I'll investigate the rails and slates for stampings, dates, etc. today and get some pictures up of the various parts.

Thanks for all the info everyone! :thumbup:

 

[Hack]

It's strange, because both of the tables I bought have the side pocket castings, all castings and leg bands are silver, and everything about them is identical, aside from color and aprons. And, I'm certain the one without the apron lines is quite a bit older than the one that has them, just based on the sticker on the legs, etc.

 

[Hack]

Sorry it's taken so long...

I'm fairly certain that I bought two Frankenstein tables, as one of the leg sets is clearly sixties and the other is clearly quite early, the rails are all newer with the figure 8 brackets, etc.

Anyhow, here is a pic of the newer one, the one I'm keeping to play on, built up. A life at the MSU Student Union means it was played on regularly by lots of kids who didn't care much, but I got two sets for a VERY good price.

The other has no stripes on the rails, but I'm pretty certain they are OG from Brunswick, judging by quality, look, wear, etc. I'll post pics of those as well. Just excited to have finally been playing on a classic.

 

[stevel]

Have you thought about this? Maybe Brunswick offered them with and without the stripes.

 

[Hack]

I have, but I can't find anything to support the theory. The catalog and all other materials from back then only show the stripes. I'm assuming they must have offered them that way, though, since I've seen a number of them in person, albeit in the same place, and all purchased at the same time.

 

[classiccues]

I am attaching a picture of an early model. White castings, no side pocket castings.

Red pocket liners.

JV

 

[Hack]

Man that's a pretty sight. I have a set with very old legs and aprons but newer rails. It actually seems, after doing more inquiries, that MSU replaced all of the rails several times over the course of the tables' lives.