ivory pool balls

[mr3cushion]

One thing to be aware of, some sets came from the factory with ivory cue ball and clay balls. Full ivory sets with sixteen ivory balls were pretty rare. Billiard balls, three ball sets, of all ivory were more common.

A maker of pool balls, I think Brunswick, posted a $10,000 reward for an ivory substitute which was absolutely huge at the time. Most of the tusk wasn't suitable to make pool balls, only two or three balls could be made from a single tusk! I assume that the same small area was all that was used for ivory ferrules and joints too.

I think Bakelite was the first plastic used for balls and some of the early plastic developed fine cracks similar to ivory. Very tough for anyone less than an expert to determine ivory. Customs tests with a hot needle I believe.

Hu

Arts, 'Carom' balls were made from Ivory for over 100 years.

From the 'Purest' which is called 'Clear Zanzibar ivory' tightest grain, hardly visible, you can get 3-4 'Carom' size balls!

Then some balls are made from 'Further up the tusk' which are called 'Barkies' heavier grained.

In 1963 at Bensinger in Chicago they still had 'Clay Pool Balls' with 'ivory cue balls up till about 66.

I've Never seen a 'Complete set of Pool balls' that were All ivory!

 

[maha]

still for the time being you can keep most ivory things but not let go of them without a proper permit. except some inter state laws allow transfer.

it just can be a hassle and if something else gets you in trouble that can add to its problems. and might as well get the money while you still can in many places before even possession gets complicated.
and it will. and what happens you get arrested for something trivial and they find ivory in a search you get charged with maybe a federal crime on top, which will spoil your day.

 

[hunger strike]

The set from Laner's Billiard Supply has provenance, the Stellingas are known for keeping meticulous records, and there are dated photos. Other sets would be more problematic. Some sets still get listed as ivory on eBay, not sure how they slip through. But since they do, especially ones sold under listing titles such as "natural material," and they do establish a market value. What frustrates me, and other pool ball collectors, is that so many sellers find yellowed phenolic balls and construe the color as indicating their worthless balls are ivory. So ivory being outlawed for sale did us a big favor in that respect, we do not have to get baited into a dozen wild goose chase listings every time we search.