Buying Table Advice - GC vs New

I have an anniversary table in the North east in tremendous shape at a good price,refinished only because it did not need restoring

I woud not trade it for any new table,it plays as good as any table ever made,better than the new ones and will only increase in value

For sale reasonable
 
The Bronx Bull said:
As for the Anniversary - I haven't yet checked the price on that table. I haven't played on one either - are they better than the GCs in any way?
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Annex Billiards in Toronto has 8 Anniversary snooker tables.
50+ years old
They play fine. :grin:

Brunswick doesn't mention 12 ft. snooker tables here
http://antiquetables.brunswickbilliards.com/our_rich_history/antique_tables/anniversary.html
Toronto had a Brunswick Balke Collender factory on what would eventually be named Snooker Street. :D
 

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The Bronx Bull said:
I wasn't sure if the one at the very top was a GC 4 - is it? It is labeled "Gold Crown 4 1/2 x 9" - I mistakenly thought the "4" in the table dimensions pertained to the Gold Crown model.

As for the Anniversary - I haven't yet checked the price on that table. I haven't played on one either - are they better than the GCs in any way?
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No, I don't think it is. The GC4 pockets are flush with the castings. That does not appear to be the case with that first table in the link.
 
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Gold Crown 1

HI,

The Anniversary and Cennential tables were the predessor to the GC1, they are the table to own, if your looking for a Gold Crown the GC! is the one.

You have to make sure all the numbers on the table match, so many were mis-matched when a Pool Room was sold and the guy disassembling didn't care, that when you can run into trouble.

I have a 1953 Anniversary model DC with Gulley Return, Rosewood Rails & original Red Pockets, all original came out of the orgional Home owner, it's awesome.

Reach out to Jerimy Chambers, he really knows the history of these tables and machinery to produce parts.

Jerimy can be reached at: jerimychambers@yahoo.com


BBC
 
lakeman77 said:
buy a Diamond. even if it's a little more $ .
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Hard to justify buying one thing when you prefer the other. ;)


Personally, I want an old GC. If somebody gave me a Diamond I would sell it to buy an antique Brunswick.

But then...I also play with solid maple shafts and have a carburetor on my chopper. :eek:



(I do admit to having fuel injection on my Road King but I try to ignore that deficiency and just ride the thing like it's on fire.)




.
 
Chopdoc said:
Hard to justify buying one thing when you prefer the other. ;)


Personally, I want an old GC. If somebody gave me a Diamond I would sell it to buy an antique Brunswick.

But then...I also play with solid maple shafts and have a carburetor on my chopper. :eek:

Exactly! I'll take my brunswick, maple shafts and carbs any day!



(I do admit to having fuel injection on my Road King but I try to ignore that deficiency and just ride the thing like it's on fire.)




.
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Exactly! I'll take my gc, maple shafts and triumph carbs any day!
 
I live in Chicago and after searching for two years found a GC2 on Craigslist in 98% condition. I only paid $1,000.00 but would of paid twice that for the table! I can only say, that I'm in heaven with the table. Had a super mechanic install the table and Simonis 860HR. It's wonderful to walk into a tournament and feel at home. If your serious about pool don't think of a new Brunswick unless it's a crown!! I also recommend the GC2 over the GC1 since the legs are adjustable.
 
Chopdoc said:
I believe it would be more proper to say "furniture grade" than "furniture style".

Generally: Structurally inferior, inferior materials (such as cushions), more difficult to make them play correctly if at all.

Obviously there are beautifully styled tables that play excellent, and are very expensive generally. But we don't call those furniture "grade".

"Furniture grade" generally implies that the table is more a piece of furniture whereas the characteristics of structure and materials that make it a pool table are generally compromised.
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I think the distinction is important. When I bought my table over 10 years ago, I had the WAF (Wife Acceptance Factor) to contend with, and I wanted a new table. I bought a Brunswick Avalon, a "furniture" table that came with the same Brunswick lifetime warranty and SuperSpeed cushions as a GC. Over 10 years later it's still level and you can't move it by bumping into it (and it's on hardwood, not carpet). I'd definitely say not all "furniture" tables are created equally.

BTW Scott Lee has been to my house and played on it for a day-long lesson, although it was a decade or so ago and he probably doesn't remember it. :)

My next table will likely be a Diamond Pro Am, WAF be damned, but that will probably have to wait until I buy a new house with a large man cave basement.
 
I also recommend the GC2 over the GC1 since the legs are adjustable.[/QUOTE]


Many late build GC1s had the leveling feet. Brunswick phased in that and the other changes leading into full GC II re-design and production in 1974. BTW, if your table is/was painted one of the original pastel colors, it's a GC I. GC IIs were painted in only one rosewood-like color.
 
The Bronx Bull said:
I'm in the preliminary stages of scouting for a table. I will be moving into a new home late this year, and will be specifically looking for something with a finished basement that can accommodate a 9' table.

I have read from numerous folks that they feel a used Gold Crown is a better option, in many cases, than a new table for the same price. My budget will be around 4-5k.

For the Gold Crown option, I have done some research and found "Sloezen Billiards" in nearby New Jersey, which restores Gold Crown tables. His price is about $2850 for a restored GC (looks like the first generation?), and I would then need to pay about $1495 for delivery, setup, and Simonis cloth, given my distance from the table (I am in upstate NY). Total - $4345 plus tax.

Karl Sloezen tables are here: http://www.sloezenbilliards.net/tables2.html

On the other hand, there are Brunswick dealers nearby that can order any table of my choosing, but the only one that appears to fit the budget is the Brunswick Glenwood 9'. This table would run me about $4500, in addition to maybe $300 for delivery and setup. Total - $4800 plus tax.

Which is the better option?
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Congrats brother! I will say as others have said, stay away from the " furniture" tables. Get yourself a nice Gold Crown or Diamond and you will not ever regret it. Now as far as which one - well that's either preference or budget. All things being equal I love a GC over a Diamond every time. Once again - preference. Value wise I think a GC wins ten times over. In most places, most of the time you can pick up a VERY nice GC 2 or 3 for around $1000-$1500. I do not see many GC 1's nor 4's. You can pick up a nice GC 3 within that range most days of the week and after a recover or whatever and delivery still have a couple grand left over for a new cue, a flat screen and chairs, etc and some left over. One thing you should REALLY think about is you absolutely should practice on what you are likely to be playing on when you go out - and 99% of the time its gonna be a GC or a Diamond. I guess that too depends on where you live, but honestly overall I think you will most likely be playing on a GC the majority of the time. Anyway brother congrats and GOOD LUCK!!!!!
 
Looking on Craigslist in my area for used GC's, I only find a GC IV with drop pockets for $3995. It's from a dealer though (actually the same dealer I bought my table from), which will price theirs higher than private sales.
 
Floater1 said:
I live in Chicago and after searching for two years found a GC2 on Craigslist in 98% condition. I only paid $1,000.00 but would of paid twice that for the table! I can only say, that I'm in heaven with the table. Had a super mechanic install the table and Simonis 860HR. It's wonderful to walk into a tournament and feel at home. If your serious about pool don't think of a new Brunswick unless it's a crown!! I also recommend the GC2 over the GC1 since the legs are adjustable.
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Gold Crown 1's had adjustable leg levelers from 1963 and newer, Gold Crown 2 didn't come out until 1974....so, get the facts straight.
 
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