Gold Crown Table with Ashtray Pockets

[9BallPaul]

Checking out some farflung Denver poolrooms today and came across a joint just off of South Broadway called Table Steaks. It's a pool-restaurant combo, with the emphasis on pool but with an interesting menu and dining area.

Didn't count, but it appeared the place has about 30 tables. At least a dozen of these were old 1960s Brunswick Gold Crowns, many from the old Colfax Billiards at Colfax and Sheridan, and one of them had stainless steel pockets with built-in stainless steel ashtrays! Very art-deco looking. The ashtrays could be removed and emptied into another stainless steel well, then replaced clean.

Although I'd played at that place a few times, I'd never encountered a table like that, nor ever heard of one. Goodness how times change. And now, 40 years after I first entured into that room, one of its tables is sitting in a joint in a Denver suburb. Of course, the ashtrays can't be used these days for their intended purpose, thanks to Colorado's infernal smoking laws, but that's another thread.

On a side note, Colfax Billiards is the joint where Danny Medina played in the early and mid-'80s. Never got to see him play, but I'm told he hit 'em strong in those days. I had a conversation with him there and found him pretty cool.

Here's a pic I found of the ashtray pockets:

http://www.classicbilliards.net/html/gold_crown_medalist_parts.cfm

 

[muttley76]

Cool find. I used to work selling Brunswick tables, and you would be surprised at the number of different tables/options that they did over the years. I constantly had people either wanting me to ID an old table or to get used parts for older tables. I did what I could, and usually referred them to Blatt's Billiards if I couldn't help. It was cool to see some of the history, though. I also attended a Brunswick conference that had some of information on their history, such as tables given to the White House, etc, on hand. Was cool. Would love to work for them in that capacity, lol.

 

[JPB]

I don't remember any of the tables at Colfax having ashtray corners. IIRC the owner moved the tables from Colfax& Sheridan to the room on Tennyson street. I am not sure when the Table Steaks on Sheridan opened, but it was after the room at tennyson was opened I am pretty sure. I dunno where all the tables went and such, I didn't pay attention to it. The equipment at Colfax was always good.

 

[9BallPaul]

I don't remember any of the tables at Colfax having ashtray corners. IIRC the owner moved the tables from Colfax& Sheridan to the room on Tennyson street. I am not sure when the Table Steaks on Sheridan opened, but it was after the room at tennyson was opened I am pretty sure. I dunno where all the tables went and such, I didn't pay attention to it. The equipment at Colfax was always good.

About a dozen of these tables had stainless steel inlays that said Colfax Billiards. That was one of many custom features that Brunswick once built into tables. But now we get cookie-cutter Diamonds.

 

[Mark Griffin]

Diamonds

Diamonds can be made to any acustomer's specifications. Pocket size, type of wood used are just a few of the choices a customer has. I do not understand the term 'cookie-cutter' - but I do agree that if the pocket size is the same, they will play the same.

Mark Griffin
Diamond Billiard Products

 

[muttley76]

Diamonds can be made to any acustomer's specifications. Pocket size, type of wood used are just a few of the choices a customer has. I do not understand the term 'cookie-cutter' - but I do agree that if the pocket size is the same, they will play the same.

Mark Griffin
Diamond Billiard Products

I think they mean that you can't really customize MUCH. Every available brand of table lets you customize those things(with the obvious exception of pocket size, as Brunswick and Diamond are the only two that I know of that do,). Please don't think that I am down talking Diamonds, as they are as good as anything out there. They just don't offer the same level of customization that Brunswick used to. No one, including Brunswick, does anymore. Just isn't cost effective anymore. Like I said, not bashing Diamond, just saying that it is hard to find true customization these days, especially out of a larger manufacturer.

 

[cmbwsu]

Checking out some farflung Denver poolrooms today and came across a joint just off of South Broadway called Table Steaks. It's a pool-restaurant combo, with the emphasis on pool but with an interesting menu and dining area.

Didn't count, but it appeared the place has about 30 tables. At least a dozen of these were old 1960s Brunswick Gold Crowns, many from the old Colfax Billiards at Colfax and Sheridan, and one of them had stainless steel pockets with built-in stainless steel ashtrays! Very art-deco looking. The ashtrays could be removed and emptied into another stainless steel well, then replaced clean.

Although I'd played at that place a few times, I'd never encountered a table like that, nor ever heard of one. Goodness how times change. And now, 40 years after I first entured into that room, one of its tables is sitting in a joint in a Denver suburb. Of course, the ashtrays can't be used these days for their intended purpose, thanks to Colorado's infernal smoking laws, but that's another thread.

On a side note, Colfax Billiards is the joint where Danny Medina played in the early and mid-'80s. Never got to see him play, but I'm told he hit 'em strong in those days. I had a conversation with him there and found him pretty cool.

Here's a pic I found of the ashtray pockets:

http://www.classicbilliards.net/html/gold_crown_medalist_parts.cfm

I seen these at various military installations "back in the day". I distinctly remember getting pocket hooked at Little Rock AFB Officer's Club and burning the "you-know-what" out of my forearm from a fat cigar with a very big ash head. Every time I see someone get pocket hooked I remember that. Funny now, but not then.

 

[Mike_Mason]

I have a GC with 4 ashtrays...some had 2 ashtrays...plus I have the skirting in my garage...if anyone knows what that is lol...

Room looks quite a bit different now...lol and so does Bobbie...

MM

 

[elint]

... one of them had stainless steel pockets with built-in stainless steel ashtrays! Very art-deco looking. The ashtrays could be removed and emptied into another stainless steel well, then replaced clean. ...

We've got one of those tables at The Grand in Austin Tx (used to be Eric's Billiards for those familiar with the area). If you click that link and look at the 3rd-5th pictures, you'll see what the pockets look like now -- the ashtrays have been removed (*$^#ing smoking laws).

If you go back a couple of years, when they had ashtrays, I'd still not drop a cigarette in them (habit forces me to leave my cigarettes at the players' table and never take it near the pool table), but with them removed, it makes certain shots awkward. I'd have preferred they left the ashtrays in, instead of gaping holes (with fairly sharp edges) in the corners of the table.

 

[Mike_Mason]

I had another nice shot of the table that I posted before but can't find now...but here's another shot...few years ago...room is different...

 

[Tokyo-dave]

Would that be Tablesteaks South that you went to? If so, that's where I'll be Friday night. Coming into town for one night, and looking for a place to hit 'em for a couple of hours. So far, the place called Tablesteaks South seems to be the most promising.
dave

 

[9BallPaul]

Would that be Tablesteaks South that you went to? If so, that's where I'll be Friday night. Coming into town for one night, and looking for a place to hit 'em for a couple of hours. So far, the place called Tablesteaks South seems to be the most promising.
dave

Yeah, it's near downtown Englewood. This place is way across town from where I live, so I'm not familiar with it, but I've gotta guess that's it's a players' room. They've got a website, but it's down. You can do a Google search and find some reviews, mostly positive.