10 Footer - Decisions, Decisions

Dan White

Dan White

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I posted this in the straight pool section, but realized it would be seen more here, so here's the repost:

So it turns out my girlfriend/wife's (I say that because we don't have a receipt, but I get nagged for 10 years like we were married ) father has an antique 10 foot pool table stashed in his attic and basement. He bought the table off someone cheap many years ago and never used it. It has one leg that split and needs repair, but othewise I'm told the table is fine (Edit: I've only been told that nothing else is broken. Nobody knows the condition of the rails, slate, etc.). I have no idea what kind it is or the exact age. I do know it isn't one of those overly ornate models. I think it is much more modest in design. Unfortunately the thing is in Massachusetts and her father isn't handy with a digital camera so I don't know more than that.

So I believe I have enough room for the 10' table where my existing 9' table is. My current table is OK, but is also an older table that I haven't spent a lot of money on. What would you do? On the one hand I like the idea of playing on the bigger table because I believe it will be good for my game. On the downside, it isn't a regulation table anymore and when I play out somewhere I'm not sure how my game will respond (I play pretty much only 14.1). What would you do?
 
Dan White said:
I posted this in the straight pool section, but realized it would be seen more here, so here's the repost:

So it turns out my girlfriend/wife's (I say that because we don't have a receipt, but I get nagged for 10 years like we were married ) father has an antique 10 foot pool table stashed in his attic and basement. He bought the table off someone cheap many years ago and never used it. It has one leg that split and needs repair, but othewise I'm told the table is fine (Edit: I've only been told that nothing else is broken. Nobody knows the condition of the rails, slate, etc.). I have no idea what kind it is or the exact age. I do know it isn't one of those overly ornate models. I think it is much more modest in design. Unfortunately the thing is in Massachusetts and her father isn't handy with a digital camera so I don't know more than that.

So I believe I have enough room for the 10' table where my existing 9' table is. My current table is OK, but is also an older table that I haven't spent a lot of money on. What would you do? On the one hand I like the idea of playing on the bigger table because I believe it will be good for my game. On the downside, it isn't a regulation table anymore and when I play out somewhere I'm not sure how my game will respond (I play pretty much only 14.1). What would you do?
Click to expand...

Get the 10ft table! Period! I know a guy that has a 10 foot table and he practices on it 3 to 5 hours a day and he plays jam up on any table. Of course his table is tight and he works hard at his game. He plays good on any table, real good thanks to his 10 footer.
 
wonder if anyone is nearby?

Dan,

Perhaps someone on the forum is nearby and could look at the table for you. I played on some fairly plain ones back in the seventies, they were kinda flimsy too, only had two and a half inch slate.

My opinion is if you can lay hands on a ten footer and have room for it, do it. Even if it needs some work it would be worth it. The tens are going to get harder to find all the time and they will help your game.

Hu

Dan White said:
I posted this in the straight pool section, but realized it would be seen more here, so here's the repost:

So it turns out my girlfriend/wife's (I say that because we don't have a receipt, but I get nagged for 10 years like we were married ) father has an antique 10 foot pool table stashed in his attic and basement. He bought the table off someone cheap many years ago and never used it. It has one leg that split and needs repair, but othewise I'm told the table is fine (Edit: I've only been told that nothing else is broken. Nobody knows the condition of the rails, slate, etc.). I have no idea what kind it is or the exact age. I do know it isn't one of those overly ornate models. I think it is much more modest in design. Unfortunately the thing is in Massachusetts and her father isn't handy with a digital camera so I don't know more than that.

So I believe I have enough room for the 10' table where my existing 9' table is. My current table is OK, but is also an older table that I haven't spent a lot of money on. What would you do? On the one hand I like the idea of playing on the bigger table because I believe it will be good for my game. On the downside, it isn't a regulation table anymore and when I play out somewhere I'm not sure how my game will respond (I play pretty much only 14.1). What would you do?
Click to expand...
 
three inch was the "gold standard"

smashmouth said:
wtf??? you sure you don't mean 1/2 inch?

2 1/2 is way above the norm
Click to expand...

Some tables had three inch slate. Anything less than that was "only" whatever it was! The man that owned the pool hall saw me reach in a pocket with a thumb and forefinger measuring the slate and said, "Yeah, that is the only thing I don't like about these tables, only two and a half inch slate" and he was serious!

Those tables were in an old hall without air conditioning right up against the Mississippi River. Deep wet cloth and ten foot tables required a lot of stroke. I looked plumb silly for awhile the first time I played there. It took a lot more to play on those tables. More stroke and you had to allow for cloth roll shooting up or down the table.

Hu
 
smashmouth said:
wtf??? you sure you don't mean 1/2 inch?

2 1/2 is way above the norm
Click to expand...


I was thinking the same thing! I was told that there were 4 slates, and each weighed about 300 lbs. I don't know how accurate the weight is, but it sounds to me that they aren't flimsy.

It seems like I have to take a trip there to see before deciding. I'm just still not sure if I want to play on 10 feet vs. the "normal" 9. Hmm.
 
Dan White said:
I was thinking the same thing! I was told that there were 4 slates, and each weighed about 300 lbs. I don't know how accurate the weight is, but it sounds to me that they aren't flimsy.

It seems like I have to take a trip there to see before deciding. I'm just still not sure if I want to play on 10 feet vs. the "normal" 9. Hmm.
Click to expand...


4 slates on a 10' table should weigh a bit more than 300 pounds ea if they are 2.5" thick, Glen and I were just talking about that , Gaberials 10' tables have 2 3/8" slates 3 of them and they are around 600 pounds ea.

no matter what it you can get the table!!!
 
If the table will go together you want to get it, even if it needs new rails.

playing on a 10fter then going to a 9fter is way differnt then going from a 9 to a 7..

I'd get new rails and make the pockets 4 3/8.
 
I did a quick calculation on slate weight. I looked up the density of solid slate and it is 2691 kg per cubic meter. This is 0.097 lb/cubic inch. If a 10 foot table has a playing field of 56" by 112", and you have 4 slates, that makes each slate measure 56" by 28". If you do the math for a 2" thick slate, you get a weight of 306 lbs. That's surprisingly close to what I was told each slate weighs. If it is 2.5" thick, each slate will weigh 388 lb.
 
Send him ten bucks so he can buy a disposable camera and mail you the dang pictures.

Oh, and by the way, if you decide to go visit him, I'm sure you can find plenty of friendly, willing-to-help AZBers to keep an eye (or two) on your girlfriend/wife while you're gone.
 
Fazool

I've got a 10ft. Brunswick Medalist from 1926 with 2" slates (3), it's a great table to play on and going to a smaller table is no problem. Go for the table if you've got the room, you won't be sorry. Your game will be much better practicing on that table!!!
 

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The ten foot Brunswick Antiques were usually 1 and 1/2" slates in three pieces. I know because I use to sell antique tables and I put a 10 footer in my garage about 20 years ago.

First of all, I had to try to find rubber for it, which was extremely difficult. I ended up getting lucky and found some billiard rubber (k55 I think) and turned it upside down to get the right profile.

My table, and many tables like it, were actually billiard tables turned in to pool tables. After and during the depression billiards was dieing everywhere and so proprietors were transforming billiards tables into pool tables, I guess because pool had more popularity after the depression. So you might look at the cut of the slates for the pockets and make sure they look even and professionally done. Mine was definitely a billiards table at one time.

The table played well overall, but I wouldn't say that it improved my game that much. I was playing in some tournaments throughout the country back then, and I think I would have done just as well practicing on a 4 1/2 by 9. It does improve your shot making, but you always have to make an adjustment when you move to a 4 1/2 by 9 for position.

I gave the table away about five years ago and just put a tight pocketed regulation size in the garage. Takes up less space and is more of what I'm used to playing on.

Beautiful table you have fazul. Is that an Arcade?
 
ShootingArts said:
Some tables had three inch slate. Anything less than that was "only" whatever it was! The man that owned the pool hall saw me reach in a pocket with a thumb and forefinger measuring the slate and said, "Yeah, that is the only thing I don't like about these tables, only two and a half inch slate" and he was serious!

Those tables were in an old hall without air conditioning right up against the Mississippi River. Deep wet cloth and ten foot tables required a lot of stroke. I looked plumb silly for awhile the first time I played there. It took a lot more to play on those tables. More stroke and you had to allow for cloth roll shooting up or down the table.

Hu
Click to expand...
I believe 6 of the Brunswicks I had in my room had 3" 3 piece slate on them...they were made in the 1940's. Johnnyt
 
Dan White said:
I did a quick calculation on slate weight. I looked up the density of solid slate and it is 2691 kg per cubic meter. This is 0.097 lb/cubic inch. If a 10 foot table has a playing field of 56" by 112", and you have 4 slates, that makes each slate measure 56" by 28". If you do the math for a 2" thick slate, you get a weight of 306 lbs. That's surprisingly close to what I was told each slate weighs. If it is 2.5" thick, each slate will weigh 388 lb.
Click to expand...

The playfield is 56x112 but each slate would be larger than 56x28 - closer to 62x30 (4 pieces)
Redo the math.
 
Dartman said:
The playfield is 56x112 but each slate would be larger than 56x28 - closer to 62x30 (4 pieces)
Redo the math.
Click to expand...

I didn't know how far the slate extended beyond the playing surface, so just went with the playing surface. Your dimensions are roughly 20% larger than mine, so the weight would be 20% more, which is a lot.

Thanks.
 
Danny Kuykendal said:
The ten foot Brunswick Antiques were usually 1 and 1/2" slates in three pieces. I know because I use to sell antique tables and I put a 10 footer in my garage about 20 years ago...
Click to expand...

Hmm. Good points to look out for. Any idea who might have manufactured a table with 4 slates, or whether this indicates whether it might have originally been a billiard table/pool table or vice versa?
 
Dan White said:
So I believe I have enough room for the 10' table where my existing 9' table is. My current table is OK, but is also an older table that I haven't spent a lot of money on. What would you do? On the one hand I like the idea of playing on the bigger table because I believe it will be good for my game. On the downside, it isn't a regulation table anymore and when I play out somewhere I'm not sure how my game will respond (I play pretty much only 14.1). What would you do?
Click to expand...
Dan, if it were me, I'd go ahead and get the table, even if you don't set it up. There aren't that many of them available these days.

As to it helping your game, that's debatable. Yes, it would sharpen up your long shots for when playing on a 9' table, but the dimensions are different enough that your position play could suffer.

For example, playing safe on a 10' table sometimes is as simple as leaving your opponent a long shot. You might also tire of re-adjusting to a 9' from your home practice sessions on the 10'. Some guys make transitions easily, some don't.

Doc
 
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