Help with antique J.E. Came pool table disassembly advice, tips, instructions

D

Dream Bird

New member
Hello, everyone I'm new here and thank you for having me.

Later this week I am moving an antique J.E. Came Company pool table that is late 1800's early 1900's I am not entirely sure its model and manufactured year yet. I am familiar with how to disassemble modern age tables and the tools that I need but haven't done a table this old. Does anyone have any specific directions, insight or advice on how to disassemble an antique table like this? Such as any tools I might need or steps that I should be aware of or consider that might differ? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
 
I'm not familiar with that name, but Most likely it's a T-rail and you may need the forked wrench for round head bolts. Check on classic billiards in the tool section.
 
Thanks for your response, I'm having trouble locating 'classic billiards in the tool section'. Is that within the forum? I'm not seeing that section. Appreciate any help!
 
Also , sometimes the bolts are square head and I end up using I think it's a 17 mm eight point socket. So bring a set of eight-point sockets as they go on a four-point bolt head.
 
You can take the rail bolts out with just a pair of needle nose pliers and the square bolts with an open wrench….
 
Dream Bird said:
Hello, everyone I'm new here and thank you for having me.

Later this week I am moving an antique J.E. Came Company pool table that is late 1800's early 1900's I am not entirely sure its model and manufactured year yet. I am familiar with how to disassemble modern age tables and the tools that I need but haven't done a table this old. Does anyone have any specific directions, insight or advice on how to disassemble an antique table like this? Such as any tools I might need or steps that I should be aware of or consider that might differ? Any help or insight would be greatly appreciated, thanks!
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Made in Boston in 1870's-1880's. Call Billiard Restoration and talk to owner Derrick. Knows a lot about these old tables.
 
Thank you all for the info and advice, I will definitely be bringing an over kill amount of tools to make sure I'm as prepared as possible for what I might need. I have both metric and sae sockets that I'm bringing with almost all of them in both 8 & 12 point. The round head bolts that Hard Knock Cues mentioned would be the more concerning scenario since I'm picking up the table Saturday I wouldn't have time to acquire the adjusted forked wrench that was suggested so hopefully the needle nose will do if they happen to be round. I'm really hoping that I'll be able to get the table on the first attempt and that there is not a lot of obscure hardware that requires super outdated specialty tools to disassemble it. Again I'm just going to bring all I can and hope that I'll have something to make it work. Thanks again for the info and input!
 
I have an old J.E. Came pool table that I moved and setup. Like others have mentioned it likely will have the round head rail bolts that require the special spanner type tool and bit. An adjustable spanner wrench may work well enough to get it apart, or like mentioned possibly pliers. Apparently the pocket irons are desirable, be careful with them and remove them before taking out the rail bolts. The slate should be held to the crossmembers with substantial slotted flat head screws. Make sure you have a large screw driver for these. I believe any of the other square nut hardware I was able to get at using an adjustable wrench. The slate should be keyed together with dowels, be sure to slide them apart before lifting them or you will snap the dowels. Also see if they are numbered, if not make sure to mark which piece goes where. That's about all I got, good luck and try not to get frustrated.
 
If you use needlenose pliers, i suggest clamping a pair of visegrips near the points to prevent them from breaking at the joint as they’re obviously not meant to be used that way…it’s also going to give you a good handle to turn the bolt
 
x Wild Bill x said:
I have an old J.E. Came pool table that I moved and setup. Like others have mentioned it likely will have the round head rail bolts that require the special spanner type tool and bit. An adjustable spanner wrench may work well enough to get it apart, or like mentioned possibly pliers. Apparently the pocket irons are desirable, be careful with them and remove them before taking out the rail bolts. The slate should be held to the crossmembers with substantial slotted flat head screws. Make sure you have a large screw driver for these. I believe any of the other square nut hardware I was able to get at using an adjustable wrench. The slate should be keyed together with dowels, be sure to slide them apart before lifting them or you will snap the dowels. Also see if they are numbered, if not make sure to mark which piece goes where. That's about all I got, good luck and try not to get frustrated.
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kid said:
If you use needlenose pliers, i suggest clamping a pair of visegrips near the points to prevent them from breaking at the joint as they’re obviously not meant to be used that way…it’s also going to give you a good handle to turn the bolt
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Extremely appreciate all the info and it is a huge help having heard this before I go pick up and move the table tomorrow morning. I'm going to search around for an adjustable spanner wrench like you've suggested but might have to make a stop somewhere if I cant find one around. If i don't have one already I may try the needle nose pliers first and go purchase the spanner wrench if that's not working for me.

Very great suggestion with using the visegrips with the needle nose pliers, never would have thought of doing that and definitely makes great sense.

I'll be sure to post here letting you guys know how things went and I'll take a few photos of the table before taking it apart and will attach them here. Thanks again (y)
 
Dream Bird said:
Extremely appreciate all the info and it is a huge help having heard this before I go pick up and move the table tomorrow morning. I'm going to search around for an adjustable spanner wrench like you've suggested but might have to make a stop somewhere if I cant find one around. If i don't have one already I may try the needle nose pliers first and go purchase the spanner wrench if that's not working for me.

Very great suggestion with using the visegrips with the needle nose pliers, never would have thought of doing that and definitely makes great sense.

I'll be sure to post here letting you guys know how things went and I'll take a few photos of the table before taking it apart and will attach them here. Thanks again (y)
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Would love to see some photos while you dismantle it. Especially the pocket irons that wild bill mentioned. Good luck, old tables are usually a work of art.
 
Hard Knock Cues said:
Would love to see some photos while you dismantle it. Especially the pocket irons that wild bill mentioned. Good luck, old tables are usually a work of art.
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I'll try and document the process of taking it apart as best I can and report back! Thanks again for the assistance everyone.
 
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