Pool ball collecting invariably will bring sets and individual balls to your doorstep in less-than-perfect condition. Unless you buy new.
There’s a lot to be said for balls that have survived the years and myriad games played by folks from all walks of life - a literal treasure trove of history in your hands, replete with all of the grit and grime accumulated along the way. Not only can you see and feel the grunge, but if you dare get close enough, you’ll smell that history as well. Cigars? Or is that cigarette smoke I’m smelling? Chalk or just a chalky finish? Yellowing from the age or poor care?
Back in the day, Brunswick sent care instructions along with each Gold Crown ball set (Centennials) and thought important enough to print those instructions on the inside of each box lid - Undoubtedly for the room owners, since they made reference to their recommended “Brunswick Ball Cleaner and Polish, catalog No. 18-18” while making sure each reader understood exactly what went into these new composition balls and how to care for them.
Here are a few excerpts from a 1960’s era boxed set I have: “Never use soap, water, alcohol, or other convenient liquids to clean and polish them.” Convenient. That got a chuckle. “...you should see to it that they are cleaned daily.” And a favorite “...to preserve the “like new...factory fresh” appearance, please follow these few simple instructions.”
Today, there are no care instructions printed on the boxes anywhere but you’ll get a little schooling on how long they’ve been making them and how they are superior to their competitors
Perhaps that’s why so many sets arrive in various states of filth - the previous owner thought these newer 20th century balls don’t need tending or care...
Here’s a perfect example of a rather desirous set that I was able to purchase that arrived all wrapped together in a plastic grocery sack and then dropped inside a thrice-used cardboard box - wrapped of course in gray duct tape. Yes, duct tape. And it worked.
The TRU LINE set of Double Circles:
Being careful not to use any soap, water, alcohol or any other convenient liquid, I spent some quality time with each ball in gloved hands along with a dedicated billiard ball cleaning and polishing compound to arrive at this result:
Aramith Billiard Ball Cleaner. No-dye microfiber towels. A little pressure and a lot of patience. A few tried and true tricks. No use of the Diamond ball polisher yet - that will come with step 3 on my way to a final 5 step plan to help get them back to playable condition.
So be careful out there Pool Ball Collecting thread readers - the best advice has been around for over 100 years when it comes to taking care of billiard balls. Keep them clean but avoid convenient liquids - and they (balls) will be around for decades if not centuries later because of the great care and stewardship each owner bestowed upon them - the real reason we play these games....
The Balls.
~ K.
