Brunswick Balke Collender Table ID???

CamposCues

CamposCues

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I just bought an old 9' Brunswick Balke Collender table. I looked on the Brunswick site under antique tables but couldn't find this one. It doesn't have a metal name plate on it. The Brunswick Balke Collender Co. logo is actually carved in the rail. Someone restained the table so you can't see the light colored veneer but it has similar veneer inlays to the one in the 2nd pic. I haven't picked it up yet so all I have is the crummy cell phone pic. If anyone has any idea on age or model please let me know and thanks.
 

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I had four of these in my Long Island, NY poolroom in the sixties. Mine were built in 1891 I believe. Johnnyt
 
Brunswick Balke ID

It's an awesome old table. I got what I think is a good deal on it. I might look into stripping it down and refinishing it. Is that a huge project or can it be done? I may just sell it and try to make a couple bucks. Anyone have any idea what one may be worth?
 
i believe and could easely be wrong, but i think it is called the "Madison". value i am not sure of either..maybe around 3-5k if refinished
 
Wakuljr I think you might be right.

I remember working on a Collender T-rail not to long ago. And thanks to a wide and shallow hunk missing on the slate and him getting Simonis cloth it was a pain to get right.

Also not to long ago I got on a discussion on "Myspace" about pool table rooms. Someone showed a picture of them converting a Garage into a pool room. The after picture had a picture of the table. I told the guy that by showing that picture he gave me nightmares because probably a week or 2 before that I did one exactly like his. The man also mentioned the name of his table. He said it was a "1920's Brunswick Balke-Collender REGINA model". His name plate is still visible. So I'm sure he is correct.

The thing about it is your table and his look nothing alike. His T-rail rails have 3 bolts visible. While yours has 4 visible. I remember putting 3 in on that similar table.

I do want to say I'm not 100% positive. Nor am I 0% positive. I'm just relaying what I think the situation is. And maybe help add or detract a peice to your puzzle.

As for the value. Antique T-rails are very odd. If it is in junk condition it doesn't matter if Misconi blessed the table. It's not worth a lot. But if you have one non-restored in good condition they can rack in some coin.

I do like your table. I have a place in my heart (and in need of a new back bone) for T-rails. I hate moving them but I would like to have a restored one.
 
Table

I guess I'm still in question. I'll get some better pics once I get it home. It's a cool table and maybe a fun project. I'd like to keep it but I don't know if I can squeeze a 9' in my basement.

Also, I'm not entirely sure what t-rails means???
 
Brunswick-Balke-Collender Table ID...

Suggestion...on some older, vintage Brunswick tables, they stenciled the model of the table on the inside of the skirt at the head of the table...so, simply crawl under the table and look at the inside of the skirt at the head of the table...you may find the model stenciled there.
 
Camposcues.

Yours being a 9foot that might explain why you have 4 bolts instead of 3. so I could still be wrong. But the table does look different. I'll try to get a picture of it so you can compare.

As for the T-rail.
On modern pool tables the railes bolt from the bottom of the slate. Just go to your local pool hall and look under the table and you'll see what I'm talking about.

On a T-rail you actually bolt the rail into the side of the slate into inserts within the slate. A lot of T-rails won't have blinds. Especially your older ones.

Another way to tell how old your table is that on older Brunswicks you could look at the side of the slate backing and you would see a stamp. Something about being made by the "Union". It has a date which I think started in 1933. I'm not sure how accurate it is but maybe someone on here will know.
 
Table

Here are a couple more crummy cell phone pics if they help identify anything. I haven't gotten to take it all apart, so I don't know if there are any markings on the slate or underneath. I built a little tool to get those wierd bolts out to take off the rails and that's as far as I've gotten.
 

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Try these web sites---
http://www.bankshotantiques.com/inventory.
http://www.lanerpooltables.com/frames.html

These old tables can be difficult to set up to play properly especially if they were converted billiard tables. Many old billiard tables were converted to pool tables. Since billiard balls are larger than pool balls the rails may need extensive modifications. I have a file of the various dimensions of rail height, angle, profiles, etc. but the file is too big to for this forum. If you would like an E-mail copy, just PM your E-mail address. (P.S., I learned all of this the hard way by having two different Brunswick dealers repairing these rails improperly.)
 
Pockets

Also, when I was taking her apart I noticed 3 pocket irons were broken. Can replacements be purchased that will fit it? Sorry for all the questions I've only owned bar tables due to room contraints.
 
Tennesseejoe said:
Try these web sites---
http://www.bankshotantiques.com/inventory.
http://www.lanerpooltables.com/frames.html

These old tables can be difficult to set up to play properly especially if they were converted billiard tables. Many old billiard tables were converted to pool tables. Since billiard balls are larger than pool balls the rails may need extensive modifications. I have a file of the various dimensions of rail height, angle, profiles, etc. but the file is too big to for this forum. If you would like an E-mail copy, just PM your E-mail address. (P.S., I learned all of this the hard way by having two different Brunswick dealers repairing these rails improperly.)
Click to expand...

TJ, that first link doesn't work.. (Just happen to like perusing old tables not alot to add to the conversation here)

DJ
 
Nice looking table. I just completed refinishing an antique Brunswick snooker table. It is a Madison and yours looks similar, but not the same. If I had to guess, I'd say yours is older. Mine is an early '20s model. It came out really nice, better than I had hoped. You can get pocket irons. The trick is to find out which size was used on your table. It should be fairly easy to deduce from the Brunswick web site. Look at the specs or details for the older tables. Do a search on the web for pool table pocket parts. There aren't many places that sell them, but you should find at least two. The web references above are places to call if you have questions regarding the restoration process or to locate parts.
 
Refinishing

bsmutz said:
Nice looking table. I just completed refinishing an antique Brunswick snooker table.
Click to expand...

How long did it take you to refinish it? I will probably contact the folks at those two links for advice. I don't want to accidentally do more harm than good. I think it's a cool table and I want it to look nice. It looks like someone just stained over over everything with a dark stain. I don't know how hard it will be to get off.
 
Yeah, that looks better. Given the weather (cold and wet), it took me a little over a month. I did one section at a time (4 sections) and had to wait for coats of paint and Varathane to dry. Basically a day to sand and paint. Another day for 1st coat of finish. 3rd day 2nd coat of finish. 4th day turn over, 1st coat of finish 2nd side, paint trim pieces. 5th day second coat of finish and apply trim. In a heated space, two coats of finish could be applied in a day. Also time could be saved by doing the whole thing at once. I spent a little more time on the rails because I wanted them to be close to perfect. I sanded between coats of Varathane on the rails where I didn't on the rest of the table. I'd say a week or two of intense labor. Are all those white lines inlays or are they painted on? Looks like a gingerbread table, lol. Here's some links to before and after pictures of mine. I don't have it completely finished yet, but I will post again in a couple of weeks when the rails and slate are installed. http://www.users.qwest.net/~swjcarolyn/images/snooker_comp.JPG http://www.users.qwest.net/~swjcarolyn/images/snooker_new.JPG http://www.users.qwest.net/~swjcarolyn/images/rails.jpg
 
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Inlays

Bsmutz, the pinstriping is black and natural colored inlay. Also, the table looks like it turned out great. Hopefully I can get mine to look half that nice.

TJ...thanks for the link. Muellers is in my neck of the woods.
 
I only took a quick look at this post. BUT, I do not think this is a Brunswick table. I think it might be a Niagra-Wendt table (body) that came with Brunswick rails.

I had two of these in my room in Alaska (Anchorage Billiard Palace). Most often these are mistaken for Brunswick because of the rails.

What tells me this is the design at the top of the legs.

Other than that, it does resemble the Madison - Jefferson type models.

I believe these were built in the mid 1920's. If you need more info, I think I may have an old catalogue that show a better image. Provide a fax number, and I will try to send you a copy.

Mark Griffin
BCA Pool League
702-719-7665
 
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