Wanted to bump this old thread, as I've recently been in a "discussion" on Facebook regarding this material and have since performed my due diligence of research. I have spoken to some of my resources new and old, including knife makers and plastics guys; and also performed chemical research with some sites I used in obtaining my undergrad chemistry degree.
The topic of Asbestos keeps surfacing when it comes to micarta and cue people. I can say, micarta was made with a substrate of asbestos, and was used in many industrial capacities. From the research I've performed, color played no roll in its industrial use. It was added as a fire/heat inhibitor. It would have looked like what asbestos pipe insulation looks like, today - dull grey, white, fibrous, and pliable. The micarta used in pool cues was part of the decorative lines. Color was a major roll of the decoratives. Green, brown, yellow, ivory, blue, red made with substrates of linen, paper, canvas, cotton, burlap, wood pulp etc.
Micarta, in as simplest terms as possible, is resin, substrate, pressure, & heat. In the early days the resin was Phenol Formaldehyde based - hence Phenolic. Many different formulations were used/made in the decorative lines and scooped up by cue guys as an alternative to ivory. As an alternative to ivory one did not want the heavy substrates of linen, canvas, or cotton, as the substrates were clearly visible. So, paper decoratives were chosen. BTW, wood pulp micarta is Bakelite, made by Marbelite (Palmer ferrules). Paper decoratives came in ivory, antique ivory, and ivorite. Ivorite being the highest grade, taking the highest polish & luster when finished.
Now, back to Phenol Formaldehyde. In chemistry, phenol cannot completely convert when condensed with formaldehyde. Finished condensates always contain some amount of free phenol. When free phenol interacts with UV light and/or heat, oxidation occurs causing the yellowing effect over time.
Lastly, the only micarta could have been used by pool guys and that could have contained asbestos would be FR2/3/4. "FR" denoting the fire rating. "FR-2 (Flame Resistant 2) is a NEMA designation for synthetic resin bonded paper, a composite material made of paper impregnated with a plasticized phenol formaldehyde resin, used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. Its main properties are similar to NEMA grade XXXP (MIL-P-3115) material, and can be substituted for the latter in many applications." It's still paper micarta, but MAY have contained asbestos as a fire inhibitor. FR-2 was also made without asbestos.
A cue maker would have to find or order a piece of FR big enough, prior to the mid 1970s, and HOPE is came in an uniform off-white color. This was not a decorative, and color never mattered.
If you're still with me, thank you for reading. South West, Schon, Schrager, JW and any other cue maker using micarta in the good 'ol days, was using ivory paper micarta. Period.
Josh