Gold Crown 1.5 for a happy birthday (I hope)

[muskyed]

Here is a pic of 4.5 inch pockets. I agree with Garczar, looks to be original specs on that GC I. Pockets are measured out at the points. Nice table Celt!


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While just a little corner picture, that table looks amazing.

 

[bbb]

Just saw this thread
Congratulations on a wonderful find
I know you’ll have many many years of pleasure using the table

 

[garczar]

Just saw this thread
Congratulations on a wonderful find
I know you’ll have many many years of pleasure using the table

Larry the place i grew up in ,Cue City, had 30 of these. Wasn't a poolroom but a post-Hustler rec center. Had 28 pool, 1 snooker, and one carom. All GC1's. Bigass pockets and tan cloth. Cool spot.

 

[Lawnboy77]

While just a little corner picture, that table looks amazing.

Thanks, Mark Gregory gets the credit. His rails are awesome!

 

[rikdee]

You might consider finding a set of original plastic skirts. They nicely finish the GC I look and cover the otherwise exposed pocket bottoms. When properly attached with the original anchor straps, the skirting does add some rigidity to the apron system. Ten years ago I found and purchased a privately owned GC I that had been recovered only once since new. It appears to me the table was built circa 1970. It has the blue aprons and is in near flawless condition.

 

[rexus31]

You might consider finding a set of original plastic skirts. They nicely finish the GC I look and cover the otherwise exposed pocket bottoms. When properly attached with the original anchor straps, the skirting does add some rigidity to the apron system. Ten years ago I found and purchased a privately owned GC I that had been recovered only once since new. It appears to me the table was built circa 1970. It has the blue aprons and is in near flawless condition.

That's how I restored mine. IMO, the skirts finish off the mid century design.

 

[fastone371]

You might consider finding a set of original plastic skirts. They nicely finish the GC I look and cover the otherwise exposed pocket bottoms. When properly attached with the original anchor straps, the skirting does add some rigidity to the apron system. Ten years ago I found and purchased a privately owned GC I that had been recovered only once since new. It appears to me the table was built circa 1970. It has the blue aprons and is in near flawless condition.

By plastic skirts I assume you mean the gulley blinds? I doubt they add any rigidity to the table, they are just held in with some small aluminum "L" brackets then screw to each other in the corners but they do add a finished touch to the table.

 

[fastone371]

This is to thank all the folks who posted info on identifying GC1 vs GC2 vs frankenstein tables. I digested every word. Repeatedly. Now I am checking my analysis for this newly acquired table: The feet and ball storage metal being silvered color vs bronze and absence of decal on the stretcher rules out a GC2. The larger scoring indicates GC1. The metal badging plate and adjustable feet means a later GC1. Have I got all that right?

Background: We relocated to NC by way of FL and left behind in Wisconsin a GC III and a 1920s 10ft Brunswick billiard table. Husband has missed them. Our current cabin in NC mountains has no room for a table, but the overstuffed outbuilding had promise after cleanout. I searched for a GC with no luck. Then amazingly my neighbor was buying live edge slabs from a guy who asked him if he knew anybody who wanted a pool table. He said no but his wife interrupted and said yes as she knew I was looking. They phoned me but had no info about the table - nada, not even the maker - just that seller said it was a great table "worth thousands" and he would let it go for $500. I asked for pictures and about had a heart attack. A GC1 right here in town!

Turns out the table was known to our western NC mechanic who vouched for it. The move, install, cleanup and refelt went perfectly. (Shout out to Danny at WNC Billiards)

Condition is not perfect, but it is pretty darn nice. And more important it plays beautifully. And even if I now learn about flaws or issues, I think I am still good with the table.

So, best birthday present ever?

Nice score, that is a great table!!!!

 

[celt]

Thanks folks for the affirmations on the table. You guys do know your stuff. I remeasured the pockets at the points and indeed they are 5 inches! Which is fine for our use.

Stevelomako, I wouldn't exactly call the space a 'room' at this point. It needs a lot of work, as you can see from the pix. That's a couch on end in my upholstery shop at the far side, now delivered so less crowded over there. The table is getting use day and night. By the time the weather turns we will have addressed insulation and a heat source. Meanwhile sunset out the garage door toward the Smokies is the best.

 

[stevelomako]

Thanks folks for the affirmations on the table. You guys do know your stuff. I remeasured the pockets at the points and indeed they are 5 inches! Which is fine for our use.

Stevelomako, I wouldn't exactly call the space a 'room' at this point. It needs a lot of work, as you can see from the pix. That's a couch on end in my upholstery shop at the far side, now delivered so less crowded over there. The table is getting use day and night. By the time the weather turns we will have addressed insulation and a heat source. Meanwhile sunset out the garage door toward the Smokies is the best.

That’s as nice as I thought it would look. What a sweet looking room to work with.

What part of NC? I go to Cherokee all the time. The Smoky mountains are gorgeous.

Your husband left his soup bowl on the floor right where someone can trip on it.

 

[celt]

East Waynesville near the pass to Clyde. Cherokee has some great flyfishing spots!

Doggies left their water bowl out...

 

[rikdee]

The plastic pieces are an integral part of the rail system. They do not corner attach with L brackets. The plastic parts screw along the bottom edges of each wood apron for the long rail sides and the head rail.. There are 7 anchor straps as identified in the Brunswick Gold Crown Service Manual that then screw attach to both the L & R and head end plastic parts. 3 anchors straps on each long rail and one centered on the head apron.The anchor straps then 'firmly' screw attach the inner edges of the plastic parts to the underside of the base frame rails. The anchor straps are rigidedly designed. The two shorter plastic pieces attach to the foot end but instead of anchor straps, screw-corner attach to the long side plastic parts and then screw attach to the underside of the ball storage box using a small wooden block with a vertically installed wood screw. Gully blinds is one way the plastic parts could be described if the table is gully equipted. The GC Service Manual does not specifically name the plastic parts for either drop pocket or gully application.

 

[celt]

Rikdee, your knowledge is impressive!

The table was a lucky find. Finding plastic skirts would be crazy lucky. But I am always up for a challenge...

 

[Kickin' Chicken]

You done real good!!!

Lifetime table right there…

 

[rikdee]

Rikdee, your knowledge is impressive!

The table was a lucky find. Finding plastic skirts would be crazy lucky. But I am always up for a challenge...

Thank you. They would be worth every effort to locate and purchase. It is clear they are an engineered extension of the wooden aprons whose moulded shape allows the apron system to firmly attach to the base frame via the anchor straps. And yes, they do add a measure of rigidity while completing a finished presentation of the table. Kudos to your find!

 

[rexus31]

And yes, they do add a measure of rigidity while completing a finished presentation of the table. Kudos to your find!

I disagree. The cleats and corner hardware provide the rigidity of the apron system. The plastic skirts and accompanying hardware provide no structural support. While the brackets are metal, they are still fastened to plastic which would crack if the skirt system provided any sort of support. The function of the plastic skirts is to conceal the drop pockets and ball return system and of course, aesthetics. To me, a GCI looks incomplete without them.

They come up for sale from time to time on the Facebook group All Things Brunswick Buy/Sell/Trade/Raffle. It's not necessarily hard to find them but it is a little difficult to find them without cracks or broken corner ears where the bolts go.

 

[Lawnboy77]

I disagree. The cleats and corner hardware provide the rigidity of the apron system. The plastic skirts and accompanying hardware provide no structural support. While the brackets are metal, they are still fastened to plastic which would crack if the skirt system provided any sort of support. The function of the plastic skirts is to conceal the drop pockets and ball return system and of course, aesthetics. To me, a GCI looks incomplete without them.

They come up for sale from time to time on the Facebook group All Things Brunswick Buy/Sell/Trade/Raffle. It's not necessarily hard to find them but it is a little difficult to find them without cracks or broken corner ears where the bolts go.

I agree. Pool room owners like Jay Helfert back in the 60’s through the 80’s would not have removed them if they offered any structural benefit.