Oh, man...dont do a damn thing with it except get in in your life, ready to play. Figure out refurb in a year or two...
Dating a Gold Crown 1
- Thread starter sodly
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Oh, man...dont do a damn thing with it except get in in your life, ready to play. Figure out refurb in a year or two...
Except for the rail tops being beat up, it looks very nice.
Mine has all the markings of a GC1 except it has adjustable feet.
Mine has all the markings of a GC1 except it has adjustable feet.
What's interesting to me is that the back of the aprons don't appear to have been painted.
On mine the entire apron was painted the same color, front and back, but only the front was lacquered. Mine is an early GC1 with the plastic name plate. Did Brunswick stop painting the rear at some point?
On mine the entire apron was painted the same color, front and back, but only the front was lacquered. Mine is an early GC1 with the plastic name plate. Did Brunswick stop painting the rear at some point?
I have had both a Plastic and metal name plated GC1. On both the backs were unpainted. Here is a picture of the metal name plated GC1. Maybe it was just how the painter at the factory that day decided to do it?
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Thanks for the feedback guys. I love the orange too and would want to keep this table as original as possible. The asking price is $3500 by the way. Not exactly cheap for an old pool table.
I share your concern about all the dents in the rails. What the heck happened to them?!?! The rest of the table seems to be a no-brainer. But if the rails don't look good then what do you really have? I guess you could source better rails... somewhere... but then you're putting together a franken-table (I think is what you guys call it). Not sure if that's a great option either. Hmmm. Really love the table... except for the dang dented up rails. I'm not a fan of re-formica-ing them, either, unless you could find a near-match for the original material. I don't know if any such thing exists. I wonder if it's humanly possible to carefully remove the original formica, repair the dents in the wood underneath and carefully reapply the original formica... hopefully eliminating the dents. Just brainstorming. What have other people done about dented rails?
My other option is just having a CG1 fully restored by a reputable restorer (got any recommendations?). Of course, that's probably at least double the money of this table. But it may be the only way to get one that truly looks new again.
I share your concern about all the dents in the rails. What the heck happened to them?!?! The rest of the table seems to be a no-brainer. But if the rails don't look good then what do you really have? I guess you could source better rails... somewhere... but then you're putting together a franken-table (I think is what you guys call it). Not sure if that's a great option either. Hmmm. Really love the table... except for the dang dented up rails. I'm not a fan of re-formica-ing them, either, unless you could find a near-match for the original material. I don't know if any such thing exists. I wonder if it's humanly possible to carefully remove the original formica, repair the dents in the wood underneath and carefully reapply the original formica... hopefully eliminating the dents. Just brainstorming. What have other people done about dented rails?
My other option is just having a CG1 fully restored by a reputable restorer (got any recommendations?). Of course, that's probably at least double the money of this table. But it may be the only way to get one that truly looks new again.
Just wait a bit longer. Run at that price. I would not pay 500$ for that table. Again for me the condition of the formica is probably my biggest element if you want a great looking GC. All other pieces can be fixed very easy.
I remember years ago someone had NOS Brunswick formica? Even if you can track it down, the labor would be killer. I have bought 2 GC1 in the last 4 years. One had the original cloth for 1100$ and a second had about 3 recovers for 550$. Both had formica without a single dent. There are lots out there...just be patient.
Ian
The formica is replaceable but it is a helluva job to get it done right. I have done it to one table and it turned out nice but I wouldn't want to do it again.
I had to use a power hand planer to actaully cut the old formica off. A heat gun is a PITA and ends up doing a lot of damage to the wood.
The new formica has to be re-adhered with epoxy. I wouldn't risk using contact adhesive as the formica is pretty rigid and the top of the rail has a bit of a curve to it.
I was able to get some original GC formica to replace it, but it has to be carefully sanded to remove the "orange peel" without compromising the wood grain pattern. Also, the rail sights need to be re-inlaid.
Here are some pics of the work if you're interested...
https://goo.gl/photos/fYFQVsp92kcRSqAr5
I had to use a power hand planer to actaully cut the old formica off. A heat gun is a PITA and ends up doing a lot of damage to the wood.
The new formica has to be re-adhered with epoxy. I wouldn't risk using contact adhesive as the formica is pretty rigid and the top of the rail has a bit of a curve to it.
I was able to get some original GC formica to replace it, but it has to be carefully sanded to remove the "orange peel" without compromising the wood grain pattern. Also, the rail sights need to be re-inlaid.
Here are some pics of the work if you're interested...
https://goo.gl/photos/fYFQVsp92kcRSqAr5
WOW!!!
That's a beautiful job. But holy cow that's a lot of work to replace the Formica.
Not sure if it's worth the effort. But that work looks amazing..
That's a beautiful job. But holy cow that's a lot of work to replace the Formica.
Not sure if it's worth the effort. But that work looks amazing..
Jerimy Chambers supplied the formica.
I believe he's also building replacement rails for Gold Crowns which I'm sure would be a high quality product!
Segmented aluminum extrusions for hanging rail blinds on make it a late GCI from my info. Early GCI's had full length rail blind hanger extrusions.
Here is a thread about redoing the GC rails. I found it really interesting and thought the OP might like to read and see some of the work that can be done. Just additional options available.
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=373053
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=373053
Here is one in STL that looks to be in great original shape for 800 OBO. Just spoke to seller and it sold last week. These come up pretty frequently. Just keep an eye out of CL.
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/spo/d/brunswick-vintage-pool-table/6467537466.html
https://stlouis.craigslist.org/spo/d/brunswick-vintage-pool-table/6467537466.html
The number is K3 65
I agree with this. Now everyone is different in terms of why they have a table and what they want from it prestige wise but keep in mind you will never get the money out that you put in when you have to sell. I've long read of getting GC1's super cheap but waiting, finding, pouncing and location all have to come together at the same time.
Mine has some rail dents, was once in a small college student union. Guys bouncing balls off the rail formica. Am sure each one has a story (too much beer, bad shot, unlucky scratch, impress a girl, etc) and while I'd love a perfect 50+ year old pool table it's not worth the worry to spend much $$ trying to erase. Table plays great, I can appreciate the history blemishes.
Get a table, play a table, see how much it bothers you in a year or two as BB said. Chasing after a cheaper unicorn table seems to me like thinking you'll finish a shot glass collection.
I do agree $3,500 is over priced. If he doesn't come down a grand or so it won't move from his house.
Good luck!
My GC1 has a date on each of the corner pocket castings.
Irrelevant in relation to when the table was "built". Per Brunswick, they did not date code parts relevant to when the table was put together because it was never put together at the factory. When a table was ordered, they picked the parts off the shelf, so to speak to box it up and ship it out. They did not "assembly line" each table individually.
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