Mud Balls?

[Fatboy]

How much is a full set of mud balls worth nowdays. I was in Death Valley in 86 on a thing for college and we had just left Death Valley and stopped in a little town that had a gas station and 4 more businesses, anyways I went in to the bar, it was just like in the old cowboy movies, so I had go see what it was like inside, they had a barbox and I put 25 cents into it, out rolled a mint condition set of mud balls with the square looking letters.

I asked the lady behind the bar about them and she said "we have had them forever, why? is something wrong with them?" No I said I just liked them and asked if she would sell them to me. She said If I had a different set of balls I could have those, I dont remember the CB, since it was a BB it must have been a big one, cant remember. I didnt have a set of balls with me other than my own so I offered her $20, she insisted that she needed a set of balls incase someone came in to play, $20 is 80 games and by the looks of the balls no one had played pool in there years. There wasnt even a post office there, I think they got mail once a week by airplane, seriously we were way far away from a tar road, it was BFE for sure. I asked her if I could send heer a set of balls and her send me the old ones, there was no plan on that happing. So somewhere out there in the middle of the desert is a set of mud balls(minus the CB), seems like she might have mentioned it, I cant remember too long ago.


I was just wondering what they cost now? and also if they got brittle and would break apart if they were used. I'm on a mission to collect all sorts of different ball sets and chalk too.

 

[whitey2]

mud vs. clay

I never spent much time learning about the older equipment like mud and clay balls. I'm not even
sure if there is a difference.

I've seen sets of the older balls on ebay now and then, and I believe there's a set of clay balls, that
is not a full matching set. There are also some small lots for sale, that include some of those.

I do remember seeing a nearly matched set a while back, when I was actually looking for a
"used but great" modern set. I think I have the picture around, and I'll post it shortly. It was a
very large and detailed image.

 

[jay helfert]

I own exactly one clay or "mud" ball. It is a 14 ball that is in reasonably good condition, considering that it is probably over 80 years old. This one looks like the balls used in the early 1900's. Just think, this ball may have been used by Greenleaf or Ponzi once upon a time.

I will sell it to the highest bidder by Friday. Just PM me your bid. Along with it will come a letter of authentication from me. That should be worth another two cents. I'm selling it just because it sits in a pool box and has for years.

 

[whitey2]

Are these mud balls?

Are these mud balls?

 

[whitey2]

A different set that is NOT

This set looks similar, but you will notice the box identifies them. I suspect these are what followed mud balls.

 

[whitey2]

And, while on the subject of balls...

These are the balls I ended up buying on ebay.

I have no idea what type they are, but they look and play like the ones at most pool halls.

If anyone can identify them, please do, and thanks!

 

[jay helfert]

These are the balls I ended up buying on ebay.

I have no idea what type they are, but they look and play like the ones at most pool halls.

If anyone can identify them, please do, and thanks!

Those are phenolic balls.

 

[jay helfert]

Are these mud balls?

These are clay. Notice how they chip and crack.

The ball I have is older than any of these. I would date mine in the Nineteen teens, like 1915 or thereabouts.

 

[whitey2]

thanks, but

Those are phenolic balls.

Hi Jay,

Yes, I realize the set I bought are modern phenolic-resin balls. I was hoping that someone could
identify the brand, and style, or offer any other information. Or even offer telltale signs to look for.

When I was "shopping" online, I found many sets that were very cheaply made. It also seems that
the "cheap" ones, did not have the saturated coloring. It seems to be most obvious in the
color of the red and orange balls.

In addition, the numbers on the "cheap" balls seem to vary ever so slightly, and also have very
distinct borders, where the set like mine (and pool halls) display a very slight blur between the
edge of the lettering and the rest of the ball.

Sorry, I should have been more clear...

EDIT: I just noticed that the color of the #3 and #11 ball appears orange-ish in the photo, but
is pure red in real life. So, maybe this photo is inadequate for identification purposes.

 

[jay helfert]

Hi Jay,

Yes, I realize the set I bought are modern phenolic-resin balls. I was hoping that someone could
identify the brand, and style, or offer any other information. Or even offer telltale signs to look for.

When I was "shopping" online, I found many sets that were very cheaply made. It also seems that
the "cheap" ones, did not have the saturated coloring. It seems to be most obvious in the
color of the red and orange balls.

In addition, the numbers on the "cheap" balls seem to vary ever so slightly, and also have very
distinct borders, where the set like mine (and pool halls) display a very slight blur between the
edge of the lettering and the rest of the ball.

Sorry, I should have been more clear...

EDIT: I just noticed that the color of the #3 and #11 ball appears orange-ish in the photo, but
is pure red in real life. So, maybe this photo is inadequate for identification purposes.

Those look like balls made by Hyatt, an American company. Circa 1960's to 70's. Almost all the new poolrooms back then had them. They were well made and many sets are still in use 40 years later. You probably have some small nicks or chips in a few of them.

 

[AZE]

I have balls of steel. Anyone want pics?

 

[whitey2]

Thanks, that is what I was hoping to hear

Those look like balls made by Hyatt, an American company. Circa 1960's to 70's. Almost all the new poolrooms back then had them. They were well made and many sets are still in use 40 years later. You probably have some small nicks or chips in a few of them.

Thanks, and I *MEAN* that!

Well, I think there's one nick one of the object balls, and the cue ball has a few, but it does not bother me.
These were from an estate sale, most likely only used in a home.

And your answer is well-received, since I they DO seem like the exact same balls I use at the room I play
in the most. This is one of the reasons I chose them. To me, anything else just doesn't look "normal".

Unfortunately the cushions there are also about 40 years old! And their balls have many chips, like you predicted, and some of their cue balls look like blue cheese!

Anyway, thanks again Jay...

 

[whitey2]

Heck no

I have balls of steel. Anyone want pics?

Heck no!

 

[Fatboy]

now i'm 400% confused????

 

[whitey2]

sorry

Sorry. I first wanted to confirm "clay" and "mud" referred to the same thing.

That way I could answer your post, stating what I've noticed for prices (on ebay at least) recently.

But I never saw a full matched set... If you were patient you could assemble a reasonably-matched set
for maybe $100.

 

[klockdoc]

Are these what you are looking for?

Here are some I picked up back in the late '80's. Notice the color of the 5 ball, it is a dark blue! and the 9 ball is solid and red. Don't know if this is a full set or a combination of several sets.

Maybe Jay knows.

 

[jay helfert]

This is what a 100 year old pool ball looks like. Sorry, I can't upload the photo. If you want to see it, PM me your e-mail address.

 

[Mr Hoppe]

Fatboy,
To answer your question, clay sets sell on eBay about every other week for $50-$100. These are average condition, faded, crazed, and usually not complete. I have several sets, including probably one of the nicest sets in the country. It's a complete set of vintage clay Brunswick Centennial balls with original box and cueball. They appear to be unused! I believe that I bought them from Mark Stellinga a while back. See the link in my signature below for more 'ol junk . . . And yes, that is a rare ivory Bert "Beach Ball" at the bottom of the photo.

 

[Mr Hoppe]

Here are some I picked up back in the late '80's. Notice the color of the 5 ball, it is a dark blue! and the 9 ball is solid and red. Don't know if this is a full set or a combination of several sets.

Maybe Jay knows.

Looks to me like you have a couple of balls from another set, which is common. Look at the font on the 10 and 12 compared to the others. You've got me with the red 9 and blue 5 though... The only thing I can think of is the blue in snooker is 5 points (IIRC), although snooker balls are usually smaller (but not always) and usually not numbered either. The red 9 could be from a complete set of red balls. I've seen these before, but don't know anything about them. Now that I think about it, isn't the 5 ball blue in a "poker" set?

 

[pdcue]

Looks to me like you have a couple of balls from another set, which is common. Look at the font on the 10 and 12 compared to the others. You've got me with the red 9 and blue 5 though... The only thing I can think of is the blue in snooker is 5 points (IIRC), although snooker balls are usually smaller (but not always) and usually not numbered either. The red 9 could be from a complete set of red balls. I've seen these before, but don't know anything about them. Now that I think about it, isn't the 5 ball blue in a "poker" set?

The mystery of the blue 5 ball.

Back in the day, National def sold Snooker sized(2 1/8) 'pool ball sets'
ie, pool numbers and colors for use on a Snooker table - I have seen
one in use in a room I visited decades ago. They had a 9ft Aniv
Snooker table if you can beleive it. IIRC A E Schmidt sold them also.

Anyway I'm fairly sure they also sold pool size Snooker sets.
That could explain the 2 1/4 blue 5 ball - the red nine is a stumper
for me.

Dale