Pool Ball Collecting.

[rexus31]

The Billiard Ball Museum is planning to release its third limited edition very soon, gentlemen.

I’m sure the good folks on this thread will be amongst the first to know.

Is it still a situation where only those that bought the first two releases are the only eligible customers?

 

[Rubik's Cube]

Hello, Mr R.

No, sir, not the only eligible customers… previous owners just get first refusal.

 

[Rubik's Cube]

I think from memory out of the thirty owners of the first limited edition set (Poker Pool) three didn’t take up their right to buy the second limited edition set (Romanique 3), so those three sets were then advertised on here and found new owners.

Similarly, the thirty owners of the Romaniques will now be given first refusal on the next limited edition, and any that are not taken will be made available to new collectors.

 

[Rubik's Cube]

 

[Rubik's Cube]

 

[Rubik's Cube]

We hope to eventually release five limited edition sets in total. It is such an expensive, time consuming and sometimes stressful process that it seemed like a reasonable number at which to stop.

I know what it’s like to be a collector and, personally, also thought fellow enthusiasts might like to know a finite number so they have a chance of acquiring all the sets without it going on forever.

 

[Rubik's Cube]

Here are the beautiful solid walnut boxes being prepared in Mr Friesth’s store room for the next release.

 

[deep]

Quick heads up. If anyone was after a set of TV Centennials a set had been posted on Mercari. Wrong cue ball but still not a bad deal.

https://buyee.jp/mercari/item/m14390325203?conversionType=Mercari_DirectSearch

 

[Hard Knock Cues]

Thanks

 

[Mulambo]

My collection started about 2 years ago, and I bought some special sets already like Poker Balls, Bocette, or different styled Chinese ball sets. I don’t know if any of them are worth posting here. But I have a few strange sets/balls I acquired over the last year. First of all, this small carambolage set. Does anybody know what they are used for, or what table size?


And speaking of carambolage balls,I have a few single balls from buying lots. But these vary in size by a bit (maybe 1-2mm). Are these different balls for different games, or maybe just manufacturing and tollerance differences?



And I bought a set of these unnumbered 9-Balls. The webshop showed them in a green Aramith box, but I received this black one. As it looks like all the Chinese boxes, I am not sure what I actually got there now



Another set I got, are these Crystalate Snooker balls, but the set is not complete. I think the set should be 48mm, which the reds are. But I am missing the blue ball, and all colors are smaller, maybe 45mm. I didn’t even know, they made Snooker sets this small



I hope thats good enough for a starter in here

Oh and I would have a question as well, although I posted already in a seperate topic. As it seems, that the Aramith Harlequin balls are no longer under any trademark or anything, and not really anywhere to get as well. Is it ok to ask for, and might anyone be kind enough to provide me the rules for the games they came with? Maybe as scan or pictures. I would like to try these games out as well, and as they are only colored balls, I may easily replace them anyway…

 

[Rubik's Cube]

What a great first post, Mulambo!

I can offer a little insight on the Nine Ball set, dear chap…

When Aramith acquired the Raschig billiard brand in the 1990s a number of the genuine Raschig Bumblebee balls found their way to a third party in Germany.

These authentic black and yellow stripes were then paired with other (substandard) balls to make a copy of Raschig’s Nine Ball Turniersatz..

When all the old Raschig stock had been exhausted a copy stripe was made so the sets could still be sold. They are quite poor quality but, in fairness, the price has always reflected that.

 

[Mulambo]

I was just not sure, if it were cheap Aramith balls, or if they sold me Chinese knock off balls
I bought them for EUR 43,- but now they rose to 72,- which made me curious as well if the shop might have a stock of Aramith and cheaper ones as well. But they do look like the picture (their color), just the package is different…

I have way more ball sets than these, I just was not sure what to show. These are the ones where I have questions myself. I have others which might look nice but are widely available. So I decided to not post everything as people may know them anyway.

But here are more examples. These are Italian Bocette balls:



Chinese balls, with a nice black pattern. Different than the usual „Black“ series from Amarith:



Chinese 8-Ball set in 1 color:



Bobble Balls!



And some balls from Brazil in 54mm:

 

[Mulambo]

Oh, and I don’t want to spoil too much as well from my collection. I am currently developing a private website for myself, where I made a full gallery of my whole collection so far.

The main part will be a list of billiards and pool games, I have acquired over 450 different game rules so far. That was the first reason to make the website, I wanted to share all my knowledge and research I did over the last 2 years. I wrote all the rules, and made pictures of the ball setup and layout for every game. But another big part will be finding out which games are still trademarked, hence I can not show their rules publicly. So I have to check everything and be sure, I don’t interfere with other IP‘s and things.

It doesn’t help as well, that it’s hard to get any replys from companies as well. I emailed Aramith once, but they never answered me at all. But as I still need to find out what I am really able to show publicly, it‘s still in the grey if and when I might put it online. And I do it all in my freetime as well, so it will take longer obviously as well…

 

[Rubik's Cube]

That’s fantastic, Mulambo!

I know a few other gentlemen who have great expertise on the subject of billiard games and their rules. They visit this forum occasionally and I’m sure would be extremely interested to view your website when it is ready.

For my part, I would certainly love to see more photographs of your ball collection.

Good luck!

 

[datnodude]

I need help finding the vigma zigzags

 

[Rubik's Cube]

I need help finding the vigma zigzags

I’ll keep an eye out for you, sir.

 

[Vahmurka]

That’s fantastic, Mulambo!

I know a few other gentlemen who have great expertise on the subject of billiard games and their rules. They visit this forum occasionally and I’m sure would be extremely interested to view your website when it is ready.

For my part, I would certainly love to see more photographs of your ball collection.

Good luck!

I used to know one, I think an Irish guy (or of such origin, residing in the US). He was aiming to come up with a book of various games, some of them even not related to pool. Got to know him via AZB, and, like many other members, he does not frequent here any longer

 

[Hard Knock Cues]

Oh and I would have a question as well, although I posted already in a seperate topic. As it seems, that the Aramith Harlequin balls are no longer under any trademark or anything, and not really anywhere to get as well. Is it ok to ask for, and might anyone be kind enough to provide me the rules for the games they came with? Maybe as scan or pictures. I would like to try these games out as well, and as they are only colored balls, I may easily replace them anyway…

Not too long ago I picked up a Harlequin set. Complete with all the components. One pack of cards are still sealed in plastic. The set was in great condition except for the maroon ball has a huge scar across it. I would love to find the replacement if anybody comes across one. A buddy and I played a couple of the games in the book. Looking forward to trying out some more sometime. Maybe I can get you some scans as long as I'm not violating any laws, haha.

 

[Mulambo]

Not too long ago I picked up a Harlequin set. Complete with all the components. One pack of cards are still sealed in plastic. The set was in great condition except for the maroon ball has a huge scar across it. I would love to find the replacement if anybody comes across one. A buddy and I played a couple of the games in the book. Looking forward to trying out some more sometime. Maybe I can get you some scans as long as I'm not violating any laws, haha.

What a nice set! So sad for the damaged ball, but I hope you can replace it.

I would be most delighted, if I can get the rules for all the games. That would be very kind of you to do for me. So far I played 3-4 games with a friend, for which the rules I found on the old Harlequin Balls Facebook page. I made some custom dice and cards for them, although I am not sure if I got all the colors on the faces right, because I had to find out their distribution by just a few blurry pictures on their old and offline websites

The games were fun though! Liked the throwing dice for colors a lot, and it was a nice alternative to just playing normal Pool games again. They made for a quite enjoyable evening! And games like these are the reason, why I acquire simple one coloured balls like the 9-Ball set, so I can use them as replacement and play different games with them

 

[Hard Knock Cues]

What a nice set! So sad for the damaged ball, but I hope you can replace it.

I would be most delighted, if I can get the rules for all the games. That would be very kind of you to do for me. So far I played 3-4 games with a friend, for which the rules I found on the old Harlequin Balls Facebook page. I made some custom dice and cards for them, although I am not sure if I got all the colors on the faces right, because I had to find out their distribution by just a few blurry pictures on their old and offline websites

The games were fun though! Liked the throwing dice for colors a lot, and it was a nice alternative to just playing normal Pool games again. They made for a quite enjoyable evening! And games like these are the reason, why I acquire simple one coloured balls like the 9-Ball set, so I can use them as replacement and play different games with them

When I get the chance I'll take some pictures and share them here for everyone to see!