Help Wanted! Advice on buying a used table

K

KF3CD

New member
I am a casual pool player and don't know much about tables but have always wanted my own pool table at home. I plan to buy a used table locally, there are many to choose from on craigslist for under 2 grand and from Philly area dealers. I know you get what you pay for but I don't need a high end or expensive table...but I do want something decent, slate top, solid wood, not beat up, name brand, less than 15 years old etc. I'd like to spend around a grand to 1500 max and just want to know I am getting a half decent table for my money.

I have been poking around for a few weeks and I am getting ready to pull the trigger and have these 2 in mind that I found locally.

The first is an Olhausen Americana that the owner says is about 15 years old and was very rarely used. I assume it includes the accessories and I'm sure I can get it for less than a grand but will have to pay to have it disassembled, moved and reassembled. I have seen moving prices ranging from $250 to $500. What does a local move typically cost?

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/5204046799.html

The second is a Brunswick Madison, I don't know how old (waiting for the owner to tell me) but it is not the antique Madison, it was probably made in the 90's and may be newer. It includes all accessories, and it was just recovered. I can get it for $1200, maybe a little less AND the price includes transport and professional installation.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/5189174069.html

I did read in another forum, that at that price, the Madison is a pretty decent first table. Can anyone tell me if one is far better than the other or should I avoid both?

THANK YOU for any advice or input!

Mike
 
http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/5204046799.html
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Looks to be a 7' table, is that what you are looking for. It's a nice table, but a furniture table (non commercial). If its a 7' I'd say less than $500 or keep looking. You'll find similar or better for that price.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/5189174069.html
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Again, a very nice furniture style table, maybe worth 7-8 (gut feel) if you were looking for that style table. Likely won't play better than a table you could get for half that. The moving leveling and re cover adds value, only if they know what they are doing.

Move, re level and new cloth if needed, figure another $500.
 
Both tables would suit your purposes as you explained them. I do agree that both prices seem a bit high, but I might be wrong.

Are you locked in to buying "newer"? If bang-for-your-buck is a priority, lots of older tables that play very nice and won't cost much these days. But they won't "look" as nice as the ones you've shown.
 
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Don't discount and older table. Many tables that are older have a much sturdier construction than the new tables and possibly a thicker slate. Remember that the table may not look so great and can play fantastically if it is covered and leveledcorrectly.

If I was looking for a used table, I would check with business owners, like someone who may have closed a pool room and has some tables in storage. If you can get your hands on an older Brunswick Gold Crown, for example, you have a diamond in the rough that could to be made to play excellently at minimal expense, and would last you forever.

Brad
 
Dedeye1209 said:
Don't discount and older table. Many tables that are older have a much sturdier construction than the new tables and possibly a thicker slate. Remember that the table may not look so great and can play fantastically if it is covered and leveledcorrectly.

If I was looking for a used table, I would check with business owners, like someone who may have closed a pool room and has some tables in storage. If you can get your hands on an older Brunswick Gold Crown, for example, you have a diamond in the rough that could to be made to play excellently at minimal expense, and would last you forever.

Brad
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My take on this is, many of the "older tables" you're referring to are no longer being made because the manufacturers are out of business, and "older " tables don't mean built any better than some of the junk pool tables being built today. Also keep in mind, older gold Crowns coming out of pool rooms closed down more than likely also need a lot of work done to them in order to "fix" them up right, and if they're in storage, chances are you're not going to find one with all matching parts either. What the OP needs to do, is research the background of any pool table he's thinking about buying....before spending the money!
 
Olhausen is a nice table for you. You can take it down and move it yourself with a buddy and a truck. Slate is not more than 250 for the middle slate. Then have a good mechanic set it up in your home. Call a local pool hall to find a mechanic. Don't buy new, there's so many available tables, no reason to spend the money.
 
The installation is everything. Maybe contact Pat from pool table911. maybe he has a good condition table and will install it. Also BJ's in Conshohocken has sales and service for used tables
www.Pooltable911.com
www.bjsbilliards.com
And don't rule out the Patio stores. They might have a new table in your price range.
 
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KF3CD said:
The second is a Brunswick Madison, I don't know how old (waiting for the owner to tell me) but it is not the antique Madison, it was probably made in the 90's and may be newer. It includes all accessories, and it was just recovered. I can get it for $1200, maybe a little less AND the price includes transport and professional installation.

http://philadelphia.craigslist.org/tag/5189174069.html

I did read in another forum, that at that price, the Madison is a pretty decent first table. Can anyone tell me if one is far better than the other or should I avoid both?
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Don't know anything specifically about the Madison, but I had a nice Brunswick "furniture style" table that I bought new, back in the late 1990s. It looked nice and played OK (huge pockets, though), but after about 10 years, the rubber on the rails had turned hard a a rock. It was like trying to bank a ball off of a 2 x 4. I actually gave that table away, and replaced it with a nice, used Gold Crown.

So check it over carefully, because bad rubber makes for a poor playing table, and isn't cheap to replace.

Your user name suggests that you might be a Ham. :smile:
 
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Not a fan of Vitalies.
And yes a used table might have bad rubber. Looking at close to $400 or better to replace
 
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Due Diligence Required...

Caution on buying used tables. I bought a Brunswick used from a Good Christian Lady (she proclaimed herself) who told me it was hardly used and never had a problem. Then after I drove 80 miles to view it, she mentioned a minor crack, which I could barely see. She insisted it had been fully repaired by the original installer, and claimed it never gave them a problem all the years they owned the table.

Later, that slate broke in two as it was moved from the room to the trailer. The Good Christian Lady vehemently denied ever saying she knew anything about the crack, and her husband, who heard the whole thing, stood in the corner, silent.

I had already paid cash up front. Bad mistake, as it turned out - had I paid even by check I could have tried to stop payment or at least had a valid receipt to take to court.

I could not get a refund, nor even a dollar price reduction from the Good Christian Lady, no matter how much I spoke pleasantly and in my best negotiating tones. She became increasingly hateful and impossible to reason with, so I decided to take my loss and not try to get water from a stone, especially a good christian stone.

No matter how hard I have tried to find a replacement slate, no luck so far. I'll probably let it sit in my shop until I need some firewood, or decide to turn it into a work table.

I would suggest anyone do a better job of checking out the slate and underpinnings of any pool table before handing over any cash. I would suggest having something in writing to give some recourse if a slate breaks or other problem occurs during the move due to a prior crack or other defect.

My biggest failing was to not recognize how much the excitement of getting a new table could cloud my judgment, overlooking basics which I would not have overlooked had I been shopping for someone else.

OK, it cost me probably $850 all told, an expensive but not break-the-bank lesson. But at least at the end of the day I get to inhabit my own head, while the Good Christian Lady and her silent husband go to church to show off what good christians they are, every Sunday, until the day they die. If their god of vengeance is paying attention, they might be surprised at which way the elevator travels on their warm, warm judgment day.
 
GoldCrown said:
Not a fan of Vitalies.
And yes a used table might have bad rubber. Looking at close to $400 or better to replace
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That would still come in or under at OP's price point, especially if he moved it himself.

I love my Vitalie. I would have preferred a commercial table, but my wife wanted the furniture style. Its build quality is way above and beyond any other furniture style table I've seen.

Not that it matters, but I'm curious what your issue is with them?
 
Atlatlien said:
That would still come in or under at OP's price point, especially if he moved it himself.

I love my Vitalie. I would have preferred a commercial table, but my wife wanted the furniture style. Its build quality is way above and beyond any other furniture style table I've seen.

Not that it matters, but I'm curious what your issue is with them?
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Sorry to knock them. Maybe I'm being unfair. Our community room has 4 9'rs. They see a lot of use and don't stay true. The techs say the Vitalies tend to sag. They are home tables played on like commercial tables. To be fair there is probably nothing wrong with them as a home table. I think Vitalie is out of business but that should not be a problem for parts as the tables are not complicated to repair or work on. I'm having a bad experience based on the tables and I play on and the techs that have serviced them...which are not the best on the planet. If I was looking for a used table I would check in with the person that is going to
install and service it. Ask their opinion on that particular brand...or maybe have them look at it before it gets purchased to see what might be wrong or right with it.
 
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I bought a new furniture grade table. It was OK but as my involvement grew I really wanted a Gold Crown which is what I played on as a kid. $500 to move ,install and cloth is about right.

A used GC IV in mint condition was the price on my 8' furniture grade. And worth every penny. $1,500 could buy a pretty nice GC with some careful shopping.
 
Buzzard II said:
I bought a new furniture grade table. It was OK but as my involvement grew I really wanted a Gold Crown which is what I played on as a kid. $500 to move ,install and cloth is about right.

A used GC IV in mint condition was the price on my 8' furniture grade. And worth every penny. $1,500 could buy a pretty nice GC with some careful shopping.
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One thing about a GoldCrown...they will last for a lot of generations. The IV's have been around for a little while. If you come across one consider the rubber might have to be replaced.
 
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gc2 only recovered four times..was accustats studio table. the same one you can see in rempe's straight pool video and others...in jersey if you're interested powsmias@aol.com ..lemme know, i'm halfway out the door on a sailboat
 
Gold Crown, I bought mine from John Burns. I believe you know of his reputation. He says mine is a late model, made just before the V came out. The condition would indicate that is so. Scott's given his seal of approval to this table Two other guys in my neighborhood have GC III's. One very old and the other a later date. Doing a mother line, three rail bank, all three tables play the same. That's good enough for me.
 
Buzzard II said:
Gold Crown, I bought mine from John Burns. I believe you know of his reputation. He says mine is a late model, made just before the V came out. The condition would indicate that is so. Scott's given his seal of approval to this table Two other guys in my neighborhood have GC III's. One very old and the other a later date. Doing a mother line, three rail bank, all three tables play the same. That's good enough for me.
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Quick HiJack...I am a dedicated GC fan. Their design is timeless. There is a reason they have been around for a long time. There is a reason we keep seeing them in a poolroom and on TV time after time.
 
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Thanks for all the excellent replies and info. Since my last post, I found a mint condition 8 ft. Kasson right around the corner from me with many accessories, I think it's a Belvedere and I am going to go see it later today. I read that Kasson is no longer in business and I have read the pros and cons about them. The folks are moving so I think it's priced right and they claim there's not a mark on it, it looks perfect in the photos. May try to disassemble and move it myself with a friend because it's just around the corner from where I live. If I can get it for $500 to $600, even if I had to pay to have it moved and set up, I should be able to stay under my budget of a grand for nice furniture grade table.

https://philadelphia.craigslist.org/spo/5214459791.html
 
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