Sharing my old Brunswick table

vintagecollectibles831 said:
Looks like that might be a Russian Pyramid table.
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This was in Italy near Venice. We were staying in a pensione upstairs over a gambling house. At night downstairs was like something out of a movie. Card games all around the room with, no kidding, guys with briefcases full of money.

I approached the table and was asked if I wanted to play. I said ok and they were playing for 500 lira a game around $15.00 in the late 80s. I figured to throw away a hundred. It's funny, the way they played was to move balls close to a pocket till they could tap in a few balls. I on the other hand just shot them in from all over the table.

I beat all their players. On the side I could see the mustache Pete types betting on the games. Oddly enough the whole place shuts down at midnight. That was the only time I played in italy.
The rest we were vacationing in Venice.
I won a bunch of money in Germany.

Pool was just getting big there and the Germans would step right up and play. I don't think they had any concept of a pool hustler. Also, they would not quit. I had one guy 35 games loser. My wife who speaks German said he told his friend he wished this American lived here he would like to play him every day.

It was not long before they would not play Americans. David Matlock, Jimmy Reid, Toby Sweet and others were going there. Toby won like $50,000 in a short time.
Today they all play good. Nobody could go there and steal money anymore. It was nice while it lasted. I was there three times. We just drove around in our rental car and stayed in B&Bs.

I won a little money on Denmark and the Netherlands. France just missed getting arrested.
Scotland was almost killed because of the German plates on the car. In the Highlands we ran into a group looked like something out of Braveheart. They thought we were Germans.
Seems they hate Germans there. When they found we were Americans they loved us.
 
iusedtoberich said:
Are you Greek or Italian by chance? They ALL had their furniture covered in clear plastic in the 60's thru 80's, hahaha.
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:D Nah nowhere close. I thikn it was just we needed a cover and that was the only one we could find that would fit that wasn't crazy loose at the time. The cover we had before was in really bad shape, like borderline tattered.
 
That table looks beautiful. I'm a big fan of restorations; not so much so increase value but just to preserve something for future generations to see and enjoy. If it were me, I would spend the money on the basic restoration and not worry about bringing it up to modern playing standards. Really, in terms of playing and enjoying the game, it doesn't matter how big or small the pockets are or how fast the rails are, as long as it rolls flat and plays consistent, everyone is playing on the same table. You and your buddies and family will enjoy it just the same as a new Diamond table.
 
fjk said:
That table looks beautiful. I'm a big fan of restorations; not so much so increase value but just to preserve something for future generations to see and enjoy. If it were me, I would spend the money on the basic restoration and not worry about bringing it up to modern playing standards. Really, in terms of playing and enjoying the game, it doesn't matter how big or small the pockets are or how fast the rails are, as long as it rolls flat and plays consistent, everyone is playing on the same table. You and your buddies and family will enjoy it just the same as a new Diamond table.
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Thanks! I eventually want to get it up to snuff, and ya it'd be as original as possible, if I want a modern table, I'd buy one. Just have to find someone to restore it, and a house that I can put it in without it going through the floor :D
 
iusedtoberich said:
From what we can see in the pictures, it looks complete, and not in bad shape. What's there to restore? Maybe just clean the parts, set it up and play it?
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The wood work needs to have a serious once over. The photos dont' show it well, but the veneer is flaking a bit due to being taken from a very humid environment to one that's drier. The rails and metal feet could use some attention as well. The rail bumpers and cloth is completely mint however. Youre right in that it's playable right now, but if I'm going to move it (and I'll have too), I want it to where it moves too it'll be in tip top shape as it's going to stay there until I leave on a stretcher.
 
Before the standard Monarch came out they made a few so-called 'Cat'sPaw' Monarch's that are really ornate. Worth over 100k. Regular Monarch's run between 5 and maybe 20k depending on condition. Needs to get good clear pics and get a hold of Derrick.
 
iusedtoberich said:
He’s in Canada. They had different models there. Even a 6x12 GC snooker table that was never in the USA.

From what I recall reading Brunswick had a Canadian factory for the Canadian market. Idk if that factory was as early as this table though.

Btw why do we think it’s a Brunswick?
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Monarch's were made at the Cincinnati factory.
 
Black-Balled said:
Nutty.

What was going on with those people during those years and how did they cure it?
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It was horrible. On couches that were daily used, usually a heavy knitted throw blanket would be over the clear plastic. In the formal room that no one used, the clear plastic would be on full display.
 
canadiancreed said:
Thought I'd share my table on here. From what my grandfather told me of it, it's an old Monarch model, over a century old, and as far as he knew at the time, he only knew of three in existence, and they were all in Pennsylvania. I'm pretty sure there's more then that, but it's definitely not one you see every day. As far as I know, it's the only one in Canada.

We've had it in the family since the 50's, but after being in a poorly ventilated basement by a cistern, we finally moved it out of the house when my grandfather passed away. Took four guys that looked like they'd be a good O line to heave up each of those slate pieces! Been sitting at my dad's place for a while, and hopefully soon, I'll be able to get it properly restored.

So if you know anything about these tables, their history, knowledge, what parts I'm missing, or someone that does classic pool table restorations in Canada, please message away~!
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That table has diamonds on the rail, I thought Snooker tables did not come with diamonds
 
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