Pool Ball Collecting.

Ball collecting

I’m cleaning house:
Got a modern set of 2.25 poker balls
Bicentennial set with original box (box in bad shape)
Clay ball set of baseball
Phenolic set of baseball
2.25 set of snooker balls (9 reds)?
ball box from Cochran’s poolroom (SF 80’s)
Couple old centennials sets with box-faded.
Probably some others- going by memory but I’d like to see them go.

Also new/used cyclops
New/used Aramith including tv colors

All excess- located in vegas

Mark Griffin
Markg@playcsipool.com
702-835-2000
 
Can anyone help complete my set?

Good afternoon, everyone. :)

This is a real long shot, but can anyone help me locate the ball shown in the poster below? I need the King of Diamonds to complete my much treasured Poker Ball set and will gladly pay a $100 reward for this single ball.

There were two slight variations of this beautiful set made in the 1970s: one set with extra lettering (A, K, Q, J and 10) engraved on the sides and one set without. My set is the former. I would also be interested if anybody has full sets to sell in great condition.

Best wishes and thank you.

RC.
 
11uanps.jpg
 
Apologies!

I should have added that replies via AZB private message are also most welcome. :)

Best wishes,

RC.
 
Rubik's Cube said:
Good morning, Mr K.

Another beautifully presented photograph and engaging account, sir, a fitting tribute indeed to the legendary Direct Site Hexagonals. Thank you so much for keeping the thread alive with numerous offerings from your phenomenal collection, surely one of the world's best residing in private hands.

It brought to mind a question I have been meaning to ask, dear fellow. What do you consider to be the golden age of billiard ball manufacture? My own view is that the 1970s saw some truly fabulous advances, my Aramith Poker Balls, Hyatt Bicentennials and Raschigs from that era just seem to be a little bit special, the lustre, colouring and ball resonance all stand out from the rest.

Love to hear everyone's thoughts on the subject.

Best wishes,
RC.
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Thank you for the kind remarks, Rubik’s - and especially appreciated coming from a truly avid fellow collector across the Atlantic with quite a few remarkable treasures of your own, sir! Perhaps we can one day collaborate on a life-sized coffee-table book of some of our favorites - wouldn’t that be a fun project 🧐

The Golden Age of billiard ball manufacture, you ask...

An interesting question for sure and one in which I think we’ll see varied viewpoints on - but to my own account........well, there are so many!

Off the cuff, I’ll say one of the most amazing manufacturing eras for our beloved billiard balls would have to be the years spanning from the 1920’s to the 1940’s. A period of rapid technological advances from clays to plastics. The amazing Hyatt clay Zig Zags. Wow. And how about the Brunswick Waveolene set. Ivorylene balls. And so on. Designs that were hard to believe possible. And near ultra-rare today. Those 20+ years of offerings were spectacular. Again, there are so many eras to chose from but this is one of my favorites.

Anyone else chime in with thoughts on this interesting topic?

Great to see you back on the forum and searching for lost treasures, Rubik’s! I’m on the hunt, sir!

~ K.
 
If any one time in the history of the beloved billiard games can be called the preeminent turning point, the latter 1800’s and John Wesley Hyatt’s pursuit of the ivory replacement would rank right up near the top - if not the very pinnacle.

Before the celluloid balls were perfected, and in that transitory period from ivory to plastics starting around 1865 - over a 35 year period - in the Hyatt factory ALONE - there were 39 documented fires and explosions, resulting in AT LEAST 9 deaths and over 100 injuries. Just developing the celluloid compounds for plastics.

Between the ivories and the celluloid plastics, however, lay the period of inventive designs and even hand-painted clay balls which played a very important role in the evolution of our game.

Hyatt’s Albany Billiard Ball Company created one of the most interesting designs in the late 1880’s they called their HEXAGONAL. The original wooden ball box label reads “the New Hyatt Hexagonal Direct Site Billiard Balls” and to this day rank right up there as one of the rarest clay ball sets in the 2 1/4” size. Great condition balls and complete sets with their original “Star Cue Ball” are even more elusive. They are so special and hard to find that I can say without reservation this is one of those sets you would need to “buy at first sight at any price and don’t think twice”. That rare. Of course there are quite a few other sets sharing the same sentiments and we’ll eventually get to those and get them out of the vault and into the overhead table lights for play - yes, even these clay Hexagon treasures get played.

One of the most cherished sets I am proud to say I will care for and watch over as best as I can for the next generation...the six-sided hexagon numeral outlined Hyatt Direct Site beauties:

6414b1b681babcd031d6779020ee5ad0.jpg


And here’s a pic of them when first received before taking my bag of tricks and techniques to them in preparation for their first run on the table in at least 75 years - the last time they were played based on the previous owner’s family in the mid 1940’s...

055a27d83cb5582e69fe889e880e2121.jpg


Play well, my friends ~

K.





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Awesome set, Kerry! Thanks for sharing. Now if we can only get a ball manufacturer to make an exact replica of these using modern materials.
 
Hexagonals.

Hello, everyone. :)

What a truly fabulous set of pool balls, Mr K.

Bevelling the number corners to complement those eponymous hexagonal frames is a small detail that many might perhaps overlook. To me it shows somebody really cared about every little design feature of these balls, they wanted their creation to be the best possible and nothing was too much trouble.

It's a wonderful thing you are doing, dear fellow, preserving such magnificent items for future generations to enjoy and appreciate... the balls, the stories, the sheer passion you have for your collection, it's all a joy to behold.

Thank you, K2K. :)
 
Now that could prove to be a hot topic amongst this eclectic group of ball fans and collectors, my rexus31 friend - on one hand we have the devoted antiquarian hobbyists that have little desire to “relive or revive” the past - and on the other there’s the intent to honor and respect the past great designs by recreating them to be enjoyed by current generations.

A conundrum if ever there was one

~ K.


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Rubik's Cube said:
Hello, everyone. :)



What a truly fabulous set of pool balls, Mr K.



Bevelling the number corners to complement those eponymous hexagonal frames is a small detail that many might perhaps overlook. To me it shows somebody really cared about every little design feature of these balls, they wanted their creation to be the best possible and nothing was too much trouble.



It's a wonderful thing you are doing, dear fellow, preserving such magnificent items for future generations to enjoy and appreciate... the balls, the stories, the sheer passion you have for your collection, it's all a joy to behold.



Thank you, K2K. :)
Click to expand...



Greetings from the western shores of the mighty Atlantic, Rubik’s Cube - always great to see you chime in and share your treasures of both peerless balls and kind words, sir

Your fanatical attention to details over the years never escapes me, and your insightful observation on the very specific numbering font and small base displayed on many of the balls is a perfect example - proving that the finest details most often reveal some of the character befitting the craftsman of the era. The colors along with the variations from ball to ball all add to the overall appreciation of a time these balls came from - and how extremely fortunate I am to be able to share such treasures both on digital film and on the baize.

If you were in the neighborhood, sir, we’d surely spread the glorious 15 clay Hexagonals and partake in a match of Championship 14.1

One day, my friend



~ K.




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In days past - more than a century ago - Hyatt’s Albany Billiard Ball Company thought certain ball sets were worthy of special packaging. Same for today. An entry-level set of Aramith balls begin around the $100 mark and their packaging for those is a perfect white box with 1-color printing and the Aramith name across the cover. Step it up and spend $400 plus and you’ll see the best box they make - a full 4-color box with a pressed and laminated box that will outlast the entry sets by decades if not a century.

But still not a WOOD BOX

Here’s an example of Hyatt’s best clay set they called the Fancy O’s that were advertised as the best investment room owners could make to outlast cheaper sets that would require “re-coloring and finishing” at a cost of $4.00 per set. Not the O’s. These would be equivalent to our Aramith Premiums today since there were more expensive sets that were available for those that wanted the “new” plastic, ivory replacement sets. To most room owners of the era, the best Hyatt clay sets were considered a draw for the players and would let everyone know they (room owners) cared most about offering quality of play

The box cover:

03d5fee60f84e6d7ecc804cdf9b48e3e.jpg


The treasures cradled within original batting:

f69f6ffbbf47a006b086253433a8af52.jpg


And yes, after 120 years, they play beautifully and roll as true as any 21st century sets.

Play well, my friends.

~ K.








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I thought I'd share a set a friend of mine brought to our weekly Ring Game last night. These balls must be 4" in diameter; they are HUGE! I placed a Centennial 8B in the middle so you can appreciate the scale of these things. Enjoy!

41277779080_c6842245d7_b.jpg
 
Wow!

Those are some cool big balls, rexus31 - would you be so kind to enquire as to how the chap got his hands on those monsters?

~ K.


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K2Kraze said:
Wow!

Those are some cool big balls, rexus31 - would you be so kind to enquire as to how the chap got his hands on those monsters?

~ K.


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Click to expand...

These were gifted to my friend many years ago and were manufactured by Goods International.
 
Good morning, everyone. :)

What a fabulous set of vintage clays, Mr K.

I wonder if billiard ball collectors are familiar with the term CRAQUELURE, dear fellow? It describes the patina of tiny crazing found on an old master painting or the finest of porcelain. It is considered highly desirable in both these cases and even has its own classification system! The sublime finish reminds me if that, sir, simply beautiful.

I love those giants, Mr R, they're like cannon balls! Did you play a few frames with them, sir? I'd imagine it would be rather like a workout at the gym. :)

Best wishes,
RC.
 
Rubik's Cube said:
Good morning, everyone. :)

What a fabulous set of vintage clays, Mr K.

I wonder if billiard ball collectors are familiar with the term CRAQUELURE, dear fellow? It describes the patina of tiny crazing found on an old master painting or the finest of porcelain. It is considered highly desirable in both these cases and even has its own classification system! The sublime finish reminds me if that, sir, simply beautiful.

I love those giants, Mr R, they're like cannon balls! Did you play a few frames with them, sir? I'd imagine it would be rather like a workout at the gym. :)

Best wishes,
RC.
Click to expand...

Good morning, sir. We did not hit them around. My friend's Gold Crown has ball return and we didn't want to risk getting one stuck in the pocket liner or gulley. Plus, these things are HEAVY and I didn't want to subject my tip to the abuse. I told him to bring them over to my place the next time he comes over but I'm not sure they would even breach the pocket openings on my table as they are cut a hair under 4".

43109288661_76e1f1f740_b.jpg
 
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