They're beautiful
Pool Ball Collecting.
- Thread starter Rubik's Cube
- Start date
They're beautiful
Thank you very much, sir.
Very nice.
Is there any chance these designs (we have seen a few in the thread, AFAIR) will get realized? And if so, what kind of price would you be looking at for having such a set made? Or is that more or less a pipe dream and nobody makes a reasonable offer to produce such a set in very low numbers and at an affordable price?
Is there any chance these designs (we have seen a few in the thread, AFAIR) will get realized? And if so, what kind of price would you be looking at for having such a set made? Or is that more or less a pipe dream and nobody makes a reasonable offer to produce such a set in very low numbers and at an affordable price?
Good morning, Mr M. 
It’s always great to hear from you, dear fellow.
The chances of commissioning a custom set of balls like Brent’s Norwegians or my Pool Roulette is possible, sir, but admittedly very slim. If one wants quality (and who doesn’t) the top manufacturers like Aramith or Vigma require minimum orders of 200 or more units, so costs often prove too high for a private customer.
In most cases it is a pipe dream, old chap, but we can always hope!
It’s always great to hear from you, dear fellow.
The chances of commissioning a custom set of balls like Brent’s Norwegians or my Pool Roulette is possible, sir, but admittedly very slim. If one wants quality (and who doesn’t) the top manufacturers like Aramith or Vigma require minimum orders of 200 or more units, so costs often prove too high for a private customer.
In most cases it is a pipe dream, old chap, but we can always hope!
Last edited:
Apologies, Mr M, I didn’t exactly answer your question about costs of commissioning a custom set.
I don’t yet know with any certainty, sir, but my best guess from Aramith would be somewhere in the region of $25,000 for 250 sets.
I don’t yet know with any certainty, sir, but my best guess from Aramith would be somewhere in the region of $25,000 for 250 sets.
Yes, I guess this is cheap compared to the one pool ball set for $ 57,000 but then again ....
Thanks a lot, RC! (It wasn't an important question but seeing the second or third such virtual set, I thought you guys might have found some cheap manufacturer someplace who makes such balls. Cheap obviously would exclude Aramith. But you are right, a level of quality that would allow play would mean Aramith or 1 or 2 competitors.
Well, I must have had one pipe too many in younger years
I’m cautiously confident that the Pool Roulette set might be cast one day, Mr M.
Quite a few folks have reached out to me to express their interest in the project. If that venture proves successful, perhaps more could follow.
Best wishes, dear fellow.
Quite a few folks have reached out to me to express their interest in the project. If that venture proves successful, perhaps more could follow.
Best wishes, dear fellow.
An absolute masterpiece design, RC!
- The colors and Norwegian flag design is spot-on.
- The unique numbering to include the rarely seen 16 ball would allow numerous new games.
- An easily replicated design for any country perhaps with a country flag on the opposing side of each numeral.
Bravo, sir!
~K.
Last edited:
Many thanks, Mr K.
A mysterious small group of ball set offerings recently showed up on ebay this past few weeks from a highly regarded and reputable seller of vintage items - with the listing showing an original shipping label from the Hyatt Ball Company to a newspaper company. Ongoing communications with the seller will hopefully lead down the path of discovery and just how these few sets of identical balls in identical boxes to a VA newspaper came to be. One plausible theory is they were sample balls showcasing what Hyatt could produce for clients interested in promotional balls or complete sets.
Here they are:
One last photo once they were pulled from the box and shot on my table with an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Untouched or enhanced of course...
Reminds me of a fitting quote from Winston Churchill:
“....it’s a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma...”
More to come as we unwrap this riddle.
~ K
Here they are:
One last photo once they were pulled from the box and shot on my table with an iPhone 11 Pro Max. Untouched or enhanced of course...
Reminds me of a fitting quote from Winston Churchill:
“....it’s a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma...”
More to come as we unwrap this riddle.
~ K
They look magnificent, Mr K. Behold the lustre!
I wrote to The Virginian Pilot last week but, alas, have yet to receive a reply.
I truly believe that those of us who were fortunate to buy a set of these pool balls landed an absolute bargain.
Sincere thanks for the heads up, Chuck.
Sincere thanks for the heads up, Chuck.
ChuckJones1987
Registered
Fantastic pics, K2! I hope you're following safety protocol by wearing a welder's helmet when looking at these babies. I invited my friend, Tom Griggsby, over to check these out when they arrived, and his eyeballs melted right out of his face!
So happy a few of you guys were able to snatch up a set of Gumballs.
So happy a few of you guys were able to snatch up a set of Gumballs.
I’m eagerly awaiting my set, Chuck.
When I draw up my provenance card I’ll be sure to give you credit for the heads up AND the nickname, dear chap.
When I draw up my provenance card I’ll be sure to give you credit for the heads up AND the nickname, dear chap.
mrpoopytime
Registered
Gumballs
I'm assuming that all of you gentleman purchased your Gumballs from ebay?
I don't know how useful this information will be, but my set did not come from that ebay seller. Instead I picked this one up from an online auction house doing estate sales in Suffolk, VA. Given the short distance between the newspaper in Norfolk and this seller in Suffolk, I'd imagine they originally came from the same source. However, I'm going to reach out to this auction house and see if they have any more info, or can point me to their source.
I'm assuming that all of you gentleman purchased your Gumballs from ebay?
I don't know how useful this information will be, but my set did not come from that ebay seller. Instead I picked this one up from an online auction house doing estate sales in Suffolk, VA. Given the short distance between the newspaper in Norfolk and this seller in Suffolk, I'd imagine they originally came from the same source. However, I'm going to reach out to this auction house and see if they have any more info, or can point me to their source.
Excellent, sir!
mrpoopytime
Registered
I also received some balls today from a few different sets. These are all older, either clay or bakelite I believe. I was wondering if the Amarith ball cleaner is still the recommended cleaner for clay balls or is there another method better suited for clay and bakelite. Thanks!
The top row are American billiard size with the left three being speckled clay and the right appears to be bakelite
The bottom three rows are snooker balls. I don't have any plans on keeping the snooker balls so if anyone has an interest in them feel free to message me.
They all came in a vintage Super Aramith Pro box and if anyone is looking for one for their collection let me know.
The top row are American billiard size with the left three being speckled clay and the right appears to be bakelite
The bottom three rows are snooker balls. I don't have any plans on keeping the snooker balls so if anyone has an interest in them feel free to message me.
They all came in a vintage Super Aramith Pro box and if anyone is looking for one for their collection let me know.
My advice would be not to use the Aramith cleaner on clay balls, dear chap, as it has been specifically formulated for their own phenolic resin compound.
Definitely wise to wait for the expert knowledge of the vintage clay collectors, sir. Alas, that’s not me.
Definitely wise to wait for the expert knowledge of the vintage clay collectors, sir. Alas, that’s not me.
The two sets you have shared thus far are quite different, Mr P.
Tell me, sir: how many sets do you have in your collection? And do you specialise in a particular style or vintage?
Many thanks for your contributions to the thread, dear fellow. It’s always much appreciated.
Tell me, sir: how many sets do you have in your collection? And do you specialise in a particular style or vintage?
Many thanks for your contributions to the thread, dear fellow. It’s always much appreciated.