GOOD THINGS COME TO THOSE WHO WAIT.
The above advertising slogan is probably one that most of us have used at one point or another in our lives....and is actually the number one most used tagline uttered around the world. By a wide margin they say. Brought to you by none other than the brilliant minds at Guinness Beer, who began making and marketing beer out of Dublin, Ireland in 1759. I personally love their Blonde American lager served right at freezing. Served amongst friends in my home over a game of pool - naturally.
Good things take time. People say that as well.
Simonis billiard cloth since 1680
Johnnie Walker Scotch since 1820
Brunswick pool tables since 1845
And the list goes on.....as has my wait and search for the Guinness pool ball set that just arrived the other day to my anxious, and disbelieving eyes here in Texas. From England.
AZB's very own Rubik's Cube (that began this Pool Ball Collecting thread) offered to help me locate this elusive set in the 2 and 1/4" size throughout his home country and region using eBay or any number of possibilities - all of which proved to be dead ends. As had mine here in the USA with each lead turning cold - or sets that were either abused and or incomplete.
So what does a fellow collector/now good friend do in this situation? Why, he not only offers but insists that I accept his very own singular set from his private collection - and only 7500km away I might add. And, no, I can't pay for the UPS 2-day delivery either - which was nothing short of a miraculous feat of its own. And this is no throw away set or pub find either. These have never been played. Original condition and box. Here they are....with a fresh hand polish and allowed out of the box for the first time perhaps:
This set caught my eye some time ago not only for its history and special occasion use (friends over and Guinness beer) but for the simple design of their striped balls without numbers - the singular wide black stripe on ivory white. And the use of the Guinness logo on the 8 ball. These will be played, I can assure you. And never without ice cold Guinness being offered or the story of a selfless friend and collector in England....
I have met some fine folks on this forum over the years, and have become friends with most. There are those that have helped me acquire the finishing touches on collections of books, practice games, racks, billiard magazines and my favorite part of the cueist games: ball sets. Rubik's has once again, gone above and beyond. Good people on this forum - and my proverbial hat is off to you, sir!
Now..........what have I got in The Collection that needs a new home in a fellow fanatic's hoard across the Atlantic? I have a few ideas
Time for a game with the Ghost and an ice cold Guinness, my friends.
K.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk