Help identifying table
- Thread starter Jae12
- Start date
https://www.bankshotantiques.com/narragansett-antique-pool-billiard-table-restoration-repair.html Here's one like yours. SB&L were in NYC. Comparable to Brunswicks.
Looks like the Brunswick Narragansett. Here is a link below that give a little info on the table. A beautiful table, love those Rosewood rails caps.
https://brunswick.pastperfectonline.com/library/5DBB48C3-8A8D-44CC-AA6F-101823503230
https://brunswick.pastperfectonline.com/library/5DBB48C3-8A8D-44CC-AA6F-101823503230
This is a Sanford-Bell & Lahm. Made in NYC in approx. 1890's. OP has a nice table. Here's another for sale.http://www.sloezenbilliards.net/other-brand-tables-for-sale.html I'd get a good tech to give it a tune up with rubber and cloth.
Last edited:
Yep you are right, I just looked at the legs and immediately thought BBC Narragansett. I didn't realize others built that style of table to. Thanks for the info.
Found an old document. Looks like they were part of Brunswick's group of companies. https://brunswick.pastperfectonline.com/library/6BF1D32B-FF02-42D3-B4A4-175764763620 They merged/tookover other table makers back in the day.
Thank you so much everyone! 
You guys are really quick and knowledgeable.
I didn't realize that SB&L merged with Brunswick. I couldn't find much info on them.
It is a really nice table, but we are not pool players in this house and don't want to keep it. I want to find it a good home.
You guys are really quick and knowledgeable. I didn't realize that SB&L merged with Brunswick. I couldn't find much info on them.
It is a really nice table, but we are not pool players in this house and don't want to keep it. I want to find it a good home.
On the OP's picture the label on the table says opposite wanamakers" anyone have any idea what that is???
It appears Wanamakers was a huge store that opened in the 19th century, so it must mean that the pool table company was located across the street??
It appears Wanamakers was a huge store that opened in the 19th century, so it must mean that the pool table company was located across the street??
Last edited:
Wanamakers is an old department store.
Thank you, I googled it and discovered that, its pretty interesting and also odd that a store is so popular that another business advertises as being across the street from it.
Your table appears to be in very nice condition, looks like maybe it needs new rubber, cloth, and a little TLC to be a real beauty.
Last edited:
Wanamker's son Rodman was one of the men who started the PGA. The RodmanTrophy, awarded to winner of PGA Championbship, is named after him. Just a little sports trivia.
Wanamakers was a higher end department store- the type that had one floor devoted to a restaurant where women of means had lunch during the week between shopping views and it was sort of a women's club while men worked. They went out in the 80s or 90s like Gimbels and many others. The middle class was mostly priced out from stores like Wanamakers. We had one near my home as a youngster and from what I remember, they did not have a sporting goods department - we never shopped there, but as kids we would get thrown out of the store all summer long because they had air conditioning and we played hide and seek inside the store until we got escorted out by security.
That pool table - just like the similar Brunswick's had very wide pocket openings. The side pocket was cut at such a wide angle that you could make a ball in it from almost anywhere between the table spots with ease. Pocket shelves were also very shallow. It was a dream 14.1 table- you could run balls till the cows came home - little english needed because you can cheat the pockets by an inch on either side to get position with center cue ball.
That pool table - just like the similar Brunswick's had very wide pocket openings. The side pocket was cut at such a wide angle that you could make a ball in it from almost anywhere between the table spots with ease. Pocket shelves were also very shallow. It was a dream 14.1 table- you could run balls till the cows came home - little english needed because you can cheat the pockets by an inch on either side to get position with center cue ball.
Last edited:
Before I read your post I was thinking of suggesting the OP sell the table benefit as "generous pockets" and historic value. "Perfect for a rich, recreational player".
I would agree- a perfect table for a purely recreational player and their family and friends- many balls will be sunk into those pockets and everyone will have a great time! I don't know why one would have to be rich to do that though; unless the price of the table is unusually high.
The pitch was to get the most for it, getting after the ego of the wealthy rec player.