Bwick Arcade Project Finished

Dartman

Dartman

Well-known member
Silver Member
finish2.jpg


Finally done with this semi-nightmare.
Came out good, plays great, owner is tickled.

The previous pics I posted in this thread disappeared with the forum update
so I posted all the previous and final pictures on 1 page here - http://www.poolfelt.com/bwick/arcade_project.html

To recap
Rails had original Monarch Match cushions which could not be replaced.
Subrails were recut on a 20 degree angle and Tour Ed K55's installed with standard 3.2 facings.
Slate corner blocks were remade from glued-up poplar, installed with scotchgrip and blended to the slate with bondo.

Cushion nose height is a CH (64th) lower then 1 7/16 - meaning that the subrail cut could have been 22 degrees to get dead on.
Balls bounce really nice with good action so no problems.

Cloth is 860 Wine and used RKCs side to end stretch method which worked out pretty good.
Had to reduce the first side 13/16th pocket allowance to 11/16 as there was a wee too much slack.

Biggest pita was the pockets as some of the inside liners were larger then others.
The boots were also larger on all 6 and fit really snug but I didn't trim them since the balls rolled thru just fine.

Owner elected to leave the ball holder off the ball dump end so as not to hide the inlays.
Played a few racks and table plays very well for 90 years old.
FWIW tho, I believe this will be the last T-Rail table for me. :D
 
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Looks like a lot of work went into it but the end result is simply beautiful. Looks awesome, well done.
 
That turned out really nice. I recall what it looked like when you first started on it!
 
Thanks guys.
There's a link to all the pics in post#1
I really need a better camera :D

I had suggested to the owner to get the table appraised.
I plan to contact Ken Hash to see if he does that but does anyone know of someone that
does pool table appraisals? It's more for insurance purposes then anything else.
 
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Table came out great I have 7 more T-rail tables to refinish do you want another project? There so much fun to work on....

Looks great once again ,

Craig
 
I have a turn of the century Brunswick Wellington that I was told is a 3/10 condition...I was also told that 2/10= firewood.

If you're bored now...!

Great work- be proud!!
 
I am amazed at the cushions, how old must they be to turn to such a mess?
 
Vahmurka said:
I am amazed at the cushions, how old must they be to turn to such a mess?
Click to expand...

Good question.
You can probably imagine what I was thinking when I removed the cloth from the first rail.
Multiple expletives deleted, LOL.

According to Bwick, those cushions were the original "profile" for the table back in the '20s.
They had a vinyl-type backing so they came off the subrail without too much trouble and it appeared they were the
original cushions since the subrail had minimum residue and cleaned up with a light sanding.

At some point one cushion must have came loose - thus the picture with the nails in the cushion.
Kind of strange since that cushion was glued just as well as the others.

The table was in a basement that was pretty musty smelling and according to the guy that had it, the table had been there for
around 40 years. Supposedly the table was recovered twice while he had it and probably at least 10 times prior based on the
stapled-out condition of the wood.

I couldn't tell if it was mold or mildew that attacked the original rubber but all the cushions were really brittle. My guess is the problem started when the table went in the guys basement and that air quality, not age, was the culprit. I've worked on similar antique tables with original cushions that were in great shape.
 
original brunswick Arcade from Milwaukee, probably....

Look at the inlays on the corble blocks at the top of the legs. see how the inlaid pinstripes on the faces of the blocks turn inward then continue to run underneath the blocks? now look at the picture in the Brunswick 1923 catalog. identical. also pictured this way in the real photo postcard of the Plankinton Arcade poolroom in Milwaukee. This is a very, very rare table and probably came from the poolroom it was named after. Look at any other Arcade you ever come across.... the inlaid pinstripes just form a rectangle. You have a prize there, so tell the owner the good news.
 
2oldklings said:
Look at the inlays on the corble blocks at the top of the legs. see how the inlaid pinstripes on the faces of the blocks turn inward then continue to run underneath the blocks? now look at the picture in the Brunswick 1923 catalog. identical. also pictured this way in the real photo postcard of the Plankinton Arcade poolroom in Milwaukee. This is a very, very rare table and probably came from the poolroom it was named after. Look at any other Arcade you ever come across.... the inlaid pinstripes just form a rectangle. You have a prize there, so tell the owner the good news.
Click to expand...

I have to go back and install a piece of cloth in the ball box so I'll check to confirm.
 
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