1887 - 4.5" pockets - First 'Continuous Pool' Match

[Mr. Bond]

4.5 inch pockets back then is a little surprising for a 10ft table. and the balls were slightly larger...

more surprising is the $50 entry. that was fat cash back then.

 

[sjm]

In Gustave Flaubert's literary classic Madame Bovary, published in 1856, the growing preference for tight equipment was noted.

In Part II, Chapter I, the following passage appears:

"Another billiard-table!" exclaimed the widow. "Since that one is coming to pieces, Madame Lefrancois. I tell you again you are doing yourself harm, much harm! And besides, players now want narrow pockets and heavy cues. Hazards aren't played now; everything is changed! One must keep pace with the times! Just look at Tellier!"

 

[Mr. Bond]

its true...billiards was becoming serious bizness...

sounds vaguely familiar

 

[TomIndingaro]

thanks for the info

 

[StraightPoolIU]

Also of note a $50 entry fee in 1887 was more than a considerable amount of money. Does anyone know out of what publication that little blurb came?

 

[Mr. Bond]

yeah sorry i forgot to include a footnote...

its from Brunswick's Modern Billiards p349 (1909 edition)

 

[largo]

View attachment 240180

4.5 inch pockets back then is a little surprising for a 10ft table - but- the balls were considerably smaller.

more surprising is the $50 entry. that was fat cash back then.

The designated ball size of 2 5/16 is bigger, not smaller.

 

[rexus31]

According to an online inflation calculator, $50 in 1887 equates to roughly $1,220 in 2012 dollars. How many of us would flop down that kind of green to play in a tourney?

 

[book collector]

Also of note a $50 entry fee in 1887 was more than a considerable amount of money. Does anyone know out of what publication that little blurb came?

I am not sure of where that particular blurb came from but Harpers Weeklys are a great source of that type of information.
The first tournament was 1859 and there were quite a few great issues between then and 1890. I'm not too familiar after that.
The piece shown looks like it might be a microfilm, In the late 80s I used to go to the Library and copy everything I could about old tournaments and players from their archives.
Perhaps today you can do it from home.