Recent content by hunger strike

The pre-dart Ivorylene balls had a major flaw - the striped balls would come apart. The center (striped portion) was not mechanically connected to the sides. Their scarcity is probably due to that. For the solid #1-8 balls, it can be very difficult to tell the difference between Ivorylene...

These were Brunswick Compo-Ivory, most likely, and were contemptuously called "shell balls" by competitors. The numbers were pencil-thin and therefore look more antique than other types.

What is a set, 4 balls or 16? The box looks like it only holds 4 balls

Any chance that seller has another set? Have contact info?

From the Los Angeles photos

Jansco and Wimpy, who in center?

This guy looks vaguely familiar, is it Bill Hawkins?

Some of these came from a lot of about 50 photos I got on ebay for $50. The seller said they came from a Los Angeles mini storage when the owner failed to pay. Anyone familiar?

This guy is actually identified as Gene Fisher, anyone have more info on him?

Old rppc photo looks like he is no stranger to the game.

Probably nobody known but hey why not try to identify?

Fusco on right, who else?

Regardless, I wish someone could find Soviet-era or older Russian chalk. I have never seen it.

My Bulgarian chalk box from the early Soviet era has a label in Bulgarian and the chalk is custom labeled. But the chalk is obviously French Saint Martin. So my thinking is that I could find not Russian made chalk, but Russian LABELED chalk. Maybe other Soviet satellite states imported some. I...

Out of dozens of photos of Russians playing Russian billiards throughout the Soviet era, none that I have seen showed chalk on the rail or being used. Ebay is overrun by sellers from Russia and Ukraine selling those awful Soviet-era cream colored ball sets. I have never seen a chalk mark on the...