Gold Crown copys?!

There is also a company in China that makes one as well.

If Brunswick does not have a problem with this, who am I to say otherwise?
 
Tony_in_MD said:
There is also a company in China that makes one as well.

If Brunswick does not have a problem with this, who am I to say otherwise?
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i live in australia so i pretty much have to get a table here. :)
a new gold crown here is just too much for me, but how would these copies play? would they be reliable or?
 
Sorry I don't know how they play as I am here in the states. I am sure that these 'copies' play as good as the originals, as I would bet they use the exact same parts as the originals, because Brunswick has been outsourcing their pool table parts for years.

jackarmour said:
i live in australia so i pretty much have to get a table here. :)
a new gold crown here is just too much for me, but how would these copies play? would they be reliable or?
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There are dozens of companies in China making Gold Crown knockoffs. Most of them are decent tables but I would not go so far as to say that they are as good as authentic Brunswicks. From the appearance they are all nice looking but when you get into the construction they often leave a lot to be desired.

Typically in China they run about $1500-2000USD Retail. So I would expect them to not me much more than $3000USD in another country if one assumes that they are brought in by the container load.

If it were me I'd try to go to a pool room that had the knockoffs set up and play on them for a bit. Also bring a tape measure because the table might not be the size they tell you. Make sure that a 4.5x9' table has that between the rail noses.
 
Tony_in_MD said:
Sorry I don't know how they play as I am here in the states. I am sure that these 'copies' play as good as the originals, as I would bet they use the exact same parts as the originals, because Brunswick has been outsourcing their pool table parts for years.
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They don't play as good as real Brunswicks. Also they don't use the same parts.

Some are decent tables though.
 
jackarmour said:
with lifetime warranty.

please tell me what you think
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Lifetime warranties are usually a joke....from my experience.
That table looks nice. But consider a used "Brand" name table if they are available.
 
JB Cases said:
If it were me I'd try to go to a pool room that had the knockoffs set up and play on them for a bit. Also bring a tape measure because the table might not be the size they tell you. Make sure that a 4.5x9' table has that between the rail noses.
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Playing surface should be 50"x100" . I agree with playing on them before buying, look underneath look for wood not pressboard. Also check out how the rails are mounted.

I am pretty sure that Brunswick now makes the Gold Crown in China and I bet there is at least one verbatim knockoff, I do not know if this brand is the right one but good luck to the original poster.
 
jackarmour said:
what is everyones opinion in gold crown copies e.g http://billiardshop.com.au/Billiard-Tables/Designer-Tables/Terminator.aspx

sells for about 6 thousand australian dollars with lifetime warranty.

please tell me what you think
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Looks good on paper but that's not how you buy a pool table! I'd want to get underneath and take a good look. Also play on it a while first and see how it rolls and how the rails react. There can be a huge difference in rail/rubber quality and slate as well. I've seen tables set up over there with 5/8 inch slate, cheap and thin, and will not play as well either. Just not as solid as 1" slate or even 7/8 inch.

Also check the ball returns and the pockets themselves. All these places are where they save money in construction. It is true that Brunswick makes tables in Shanghai, Metros and Crowns. These are not bad tables, probably better than the knock off brands for a similar price.
 
Not as Bad...

...as you may think. I recently purchased a pool room in MD and the previous owner had a Brunswick knock-off set up in the straight-rail room for years. It didn't get much use because of its location, it was more of an "overflow" table than anything else. I will tell you that no one knew it wasn't a genuine Brunswick, and the quality seems to be very good.
I pulled it out of storage awhile back, so it is in a completely disassembled state - but I am selling it for cheap as I don't need it around anymore.

Steve
VIP Billiards - Catonsville
 
Gc v

When we replaced the Diamond with a GC V last year, the 12 or so boxes it arrived in were all stamped "Hecho en Mexico" except for the box with the hardware, decals, and return system. No complaints, but thought it interesting that America's finest should be Norte America's finest...
 
A friend has a GC knock off. It does not play even close to my real GC.

He paid $2500 for it set up. I told him after the fact that he could have gotten a real GC for that price.

He cried....:rolleyes:
 
elvicash said:
Playing surface should be 50"x100" . I agree with playing on them before buying, look underneath look for wood not pressboard. Also check out how the rails are mounted.

I am pretty sure that Brunswick now makes the Gold Crown in China and I bet there is at least one verbatim knockoff, I do not know if this brand is the right one but good luck to the original poster.
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Actually this is the problem. The playing surface on a 4.5x9 foot table is 54"x108" not 50x100". 100" is 8'4". But if someone make a table that is 100x50" then it's not conforming to regulation sizes. 50"x100" is more than 8ft and less than a 9ft. In fact it's about 16% less playing surface.

Now a pool table can theoretically be any size that is twice as long as it is wide. But if one thinks that they are buying a 4.5x9ft table then they should measure it to be sure. Don't want someone breaking Mosconi's record only to find out they weren't on the right sized table. :-)

I would bet that the only verbatim knockoffs come from the established large companies like Star Billiards. Yalin probably was making nearly 1:1 copies because now they are Brunswick's partner and manufacturer for China.
 
JB Cases said:
Actually this is the problem. The playing surface on a 4.5x9 foot table is 54"x108" not 50x100". 100" is 8'4". But if someone make a table that is 100x50" then it's not conforming to regulation sizes. 50"x100" is more than 8ft and less than a 9ft. In fact it's about 16% less playing surface.

Now a pool table can theoretically be any size that is twice as long as it is wide. But if one thinks that they are buying a 4.5x9ft table then they should measure it to be sure. Don't want someone breaking Mosconi's record only to find out they weren't on the right sized table. :-)

I would bet that the only verbatim knockoffs come from the established large companies like Star Billiards. Yalin probably was making nearly 1:1 copies because now they are Brunswick's partner and manufacturer for China.
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Wrong...sorry. A table's playing surface is measured from the finish of a rail to the finish of the opposing rail, meaning measuring across the table from side to side...finish to finish, on a 4 1/2' x 9' it measures 54"= 4 1/2' feet, subtract the width of the cushions at 2" each and the net playing surface becomes 50"....double the width of the table at 54" twice and you get 108"= 9'ft...BUT in doubling the width of the table you also end up with 4ea side rails with 2" cushions & sub-rail....yet you only have 2 each on the end rails....so take away 4" of ghost rails, then take away the 4" of cushions & sub-rails leading up to the finish of the rails...and you end up with a net playing surface of 100"....therefore...the 50"x100" 9ft playing surface. Keep in mind...the cushions are a part of that playing surface as well...it's just that the balls don't roll on them....but that is the true way of how a table is measured.

Glen
 
realkingcobra said:
Wrong...sorry. A table's playing surface is measured from the finish of a rail to the finish of the opposing rail, meaning measuring across the table from side to side...finish to finish, on a 4 1/2' x 9' it measures 54"= 4 1/2' feet, subtract the width of the cushions at 2" each and the net playing surface becomes 50"....double the width of the table at 54" twice and you get 108"= 9'ft...BUT in doubling the width of the table you also end up with 4ea side rails with 2" cushions & sub-rail....yet you only have 2 each on the end rails....so take away 4" of ghost rails, then take away the 4" of cushions & sub-rails leading up to the finish of the rails...and you end up with a net playing surface of 100"....therefore...the 50"x100" 9ft playing surface. Keep in mind...the cushions are a part of that playing surface as well...it's just that the balls don't roll on them....but that is the true way of how a table is measured.

Glen
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Sorry my information came from the Billiard Congress of America's specifications.

I stand HUMBLY corrected.

From the BCA specs concerning NON-PROFESSIONAL tables.

TABLE SIZES: 3 ½’ x 7’, 4’ x 8’, and 4 ½’ x 9’ with the play area measuring twice as long as it is wide (± 1/8”) from the cloth covered nose of the cushion rubber to the opposite cushion rubber. 4 ½’ x 9’ tables with a Play Area of 50” x 100” is the recognized size for professional tournament play.

I stopped at "covered nose of the cushion". I have never known that professionals play on tables smaller than 4.5x9' playing surface for a 9ft table.

The WPA specs also specify 100x50" playing surface for professional play. Well in that case I have learned something and apologize for the misinformation.
 
The local room near me has a GC copy. From the aesthetic stand point and without looking at every nook and cranny, it appears to be a GC in every manner of speaking.

I won't mention the name of the co. that produced this but the scuttlebutt I get is that Brunswick ended up suing that co. and lost. So, BW just eventually bought them out and shut the production down.

As for playability, it plays ok but definitely not like a GC. Everyone that has to play on that particular table at my local room hates it butduring leagues, if you are not left any other option, ya gotta play on it regardless if it's a hated table or not.

I wouldn't buy it used or new. I wouldnt' take it if it were free to a good home.
 
AMF used to make a near copy of the Gold Crown years ago. But this was a very good table because they were trying to compete with Brunswick back then. Many of those old AMF's are still around.
 
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