Pool Ball Collecting.

I had always been enamored with the retro styling of the aramith continental balls but was dismayed to find out that the printing on them was raised and textured enough to cause substantial cling in play. After doing a little digging and finding a small comment thread in a YouTube video about continentals I stumbled upon these: Aramith “Economic”; they have the exact same styling as the continentals, the graphics are even still printed onto the balls. The difference here is that aramith has added a clear polymer layer on top of the printing so the graphics are 100% smooth! I know they are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I figure I should post in case there are others out there who would be interested. I have never seen them advertised anywhere and I could only find a handful of retailers that carried them. Ran me $90. Box is nothing much to look at and I will probably toss it
 

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Rubik's Cube said:
This incomplete set of unusual poker pool balls was found in France recently.

Sadly several balls were missing. Presumably, this was once a full fifty-two (or perhaps fifty-four) strong set. The group was purchased by a community of single-ball collectors.

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Single ball collectors, the lepers of the pool ball collecting community.

How many amazing sets have been broken up or parted by this scourge....
 
Nogbert said:
I had always been enamored with the retro styling of the aramith continental balls but was dismayed to find out that the printing on them was raised and textured enough to cause substantial cling in play. After doing a little digging and finding a small comment thread in a YouTube video about continentals I stumbled upon these: Aramith “Economic”; they have the exact same styling as the continentals, the graphics are even still printed onto the balls. The difference here is that aramith has added a clear polymer layer on top of the printing so the graphics are 100% smooth! I know they are not everyone’s cup of tea, but I figure I should post in case there are others out there who would be interested. I have never seen them advertised anywhere and I could only find a handful of retailers that carried them. Ran me $90. Box is nothing much to look at and I will probably toss it
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The early Continental balls were screen printed.
They were distributed under different names as well, and they are still available through an Aramith dealer .
I would keep the box, but if you're going to toss it I would be happy to pay for shipping and give you a couple bucks for your trouble.
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Great contributions to our collecting thread today, gentlemen. Thank you!

I have two incredible tales to recount concerning single balls. Alas, I’m rather pressed for time at the moment but will endeavour to share them later this evening.
 
Nogbert…

I’ve always liked the styling of the Aramith Continentals too, sir. I think their limited edition 100th anniversary set is rather reminiscent of this earlier design.
 
Here are those two astonishing single ball stories as promised, ladies and gentlemen…

Coincidence number 1.

In 2016 I purchased an incomplete set of Cardball v2 poker balls from Canada in an eBay auction. It was missing its blue joker and the pink diamond king. I then spent an inordinate amount of time trying to find replacements… all to no avail. My disappointment at this failure was somewhat tempered, however, when I bought a full v2 set a few months later.

Skip forward three years to 2019 and an opportunity arose to buy the even rarer Cardball v1 set from a gentleman in Las Vegas. Those negotiations were successful, dear reader, and represented one of the greatest acquisitions of my collecting career. To my amazement, when the box arrived two extra balls were squeezed in alongside the pristine v1 set… a blue joker and a king of diamonds!

Coincidence number 2.

About five years ago a Romanique I owner told me that he actually had a second set but it was missing its XIII ball. As you are all aware, my friends, we are talking about one of the rarest and most valuable phenolic pool ball sets in existence. At that time we only knew of five complete sets in private collections. Both of us agreed, therefore, that the chances of hunting down another XIII Romanique I ball was virtually zero, but I promised to keep my eyes peeled.

I never forgot that promise. In November last year a friend from New York wrote to say he doubted that he would ever be fortunate enough to own a Romanique I set but had recently picked up a single ball. My initial thought was was “surely not” but I asked the question anyway… what number is it, dear chap?

It was the XIII.
 
Furthermore…

I am of the strong opinion that this ball was not just any old Romanique XIII, but rather THE Romanique XIII ball. For me, these sets are simply too elusive for it not to be the actual missing ball.

I am delighted to report that I did, of course, acquaint the two gentlemen with each other and the XIII ball eventually found its way home after perhaps forty years.
 
Mulambo said:
Did the gentleman with the Cardball set knew you were missing those 2? If not, that would be the rarest of coincidences ever I guess 🙃
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No, he did not, sir.

It was simply an astonishing coincidence. Either that or proof positive pool ball collecting operates in a very small world.
 
I’d like to find a nice Hyatt Bicentennial box.

My set was a salesman’s sample and came in a rather beautiful Hyatt attaché case… but I would still like an original cardboard version.
 
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