pool chalk on a retractable string?

S

snookered_again

Well-known member
I noticed in looking
on ebay that there were weights that had the "brunswick balk collender name on them.
I believe there was a weight system where the chalk may hang at the end of the table but it could be pulled out and then when you let go the wight caused it to retract.
the weight was tied to the string under the table so when you pulled it , you could get enough slack to use it, and then when you let go the weight , situated somewhere under the table would simply pull the chalk back so it was at a level where a player didnt need to stoop to the floor to get to it.

has anyone seen such a weight system? Im wondering where it could have been or how it may have been situated. Im not seeing any holes in the sides of my Brunswick balke collender table that might have been used for such..

Im not entirely sure they were not part of a cue rack or similar..
I did find a couple of heavy washers that were stored , tucked up near the bolts of the feet. Its a sort of hidden place...

they were quite off center and crude, almost look like hand made by a blacksmith or something.. I wondered if they were weights for similar.


heres a link
www.ebay.ca

Pair (2) Of BRUNSWICK BALKE COLLENDER HANGING CHALK HOLDER COUNTER WEIGHTS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Pair (2) Of BRUNSWICK BALKE COLLENDER HANGING CHALK HOLDER COUNTER WEIGHTS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.ca
 
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snookered_again said:
I noticed in looking
on ebay that there were weights that had the "brunswick balk collender name on them.
I believe there was a weight system where the chalk may hang at the end of the table but it could be pulled out and then when you let go the wight caused it to retract.
the weight was tied to the string under the table so when you pulled it , you could get enough slack to use it, and then when you let go the weight , situated somewhere under the table would simply pull the chalk back so it was at a level where a player didnt need to stoop to the floor to get to it.

has anyone seen such a weight system? Im wondering where it could have been or how it may have been situated. Im not seeing any holes in the sides of my Brunswick balke collender table that might have been used for such..

Im not entirely sure they were not part of a cue rack or similar..
I did find a couple of heavy washers that were stored , tucked up near the bolts of the feet. Its a sort of hidden place...

they were quite off center and crude, almost look like hand made by a blacksmith or something.. I wondered if they were weights for similar.


heres a link
www.ebay.ca

Pair (2) Of BRUNSWICK BALKE COLLENDER HANGING CHALK HOLDER COUNTER WEIGHTS | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Pair (2) Of BRUNSWICK BALKE COLLENDER HANGING CHALK HOLDER COUNTER WEIGHTS at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
www.ebay.ca
Click to expand...

I believe these were hung from the ceiling / from the light. I will see if I can find a reference.

Edit: here is from the 1929 catalog:


1695853647829.png


I think you could hang this anywhere, but other lists for chalk holders describe them being ceiling or wall mounted (presumably the pool bums wouldn't like bending over if these hung from the table).

1695853708316.png
 
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I suppose the chalk holder would be an interesting conversation piece but these days no competent player would have much interest in using one.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I suppose the chalk holder would be an interesting conversation piece but these days no competent player would have much interest in using one.
Click to expand...

I assume the purpose was to keep people from running off with the chalk? But in those days chalk was really cheap so you would need an incredible loss problem to justify the expense and maintenance of one of these contraptions.
 
kling&allen said:
I assume the purpose was to keep people from running off with the chalk? But in those days chalk was really cheap so you would need an incredible loss problem to justify the expense and maintenance of one of these contraptions.
Click to expand...
They had the advantage of keeping the chalk off the rail which was important if the players were wearing suits.
 
Why would something convenient be of no value? Certainly better than the stupid chalk holder that you jam into your pocket every shot. Or the magnetic ones that get bumped and fall off and roll under the table. Both make a mess.

I made my own chalk pulls and they don’t require any maintenance, just swap the chalk when they get wallowed out.

Competent as well as competent players like the fact that they spend 90% less time fooling around with loose chalk. They simply reach up and pull it down to chalk, and let it go.
 
thanks for that interesting info. I've noticed a talcum dispenser and an interesting ball rack where all the balls were dispensed to a basket through an interesting shelf design where all the shelves were sloped but the end one had a hole for balls to drop to the next shelf below.. I think if you have and appreciate antique pool tables the accessories do add some interest to the room. I cant; afford to spend bundles of cash but I could see trying to recreate replicas through magazine drawings.

I went to great lengths to refinish my living room , from 1924. It never did have ceiling lights so I never added them. Now I have a suspended cord for the pool light and needed to add a couple of hooks..

maybe it wouldn't be too hard to make an antique looking wooden box with the coils and string lock from a roll up blind? practical of not, things like this set the theme and some like interesting items.

I'm planning to put some shelves up high with things like old radios with their dials lit up and furniture and lamps from the early 20's.

Im reclaiming old flooring to use for the wood and planning to mimic the roof bracket proportions that are part of craftsman home styling. might add some wainscot , picture rails, chair rails etc.. I'll try to clear the room of modern stuff, it gives a place to enjoy pretending I'm back in the 20's I still have an antique fireplace so having that going is nice too, and it supplements the heat bill. almost no one here has fireplaces so the wood is free and cut up for the taking by local tree pruners. I have a couple of oak armchairs and a couch that was from 1908, from the empress hotel in victoria. I need to refurbish the couch.. I like that sort of thing, its fun to me.
My new table is brunswick balke collender, exact date unknown but mid teens or 20's is close. some of the slate support frames were a bit punky on the edges so I'm just replacing what I need to , Ill splice in a few bits, what isnt' bad Ill leave alone. ( a few "dutchmans" )

my table was "refinished" by spraying some dark brown coating on top of it that doesn't belong. the base coat / sealer looks like particleboard, followed by dark brown shellac. Its all shellac based stuff so I can remove it with stripper or lacquer thinners.. I tried a patch. not hard to remove it.. the mahogany is there but I know it has parts missing and probably some attachment issues.

the top rails and cushions and pockets look nice so the rest is just cosmetic. cloth was ok, no glue used, I'll reuse that. I know refinishing all the sides, legs and frame parts is huge job, I contemplated it and said no just use it for now, but Ill replace a few bits as necessary. the rails have covers and I can maybe start with restoring those.. the frame is so heavy it was a real brute to move.. I know how to fix all the veneer , maybe when I retire.

I collected a lot of interesting old things, Its a hobby, I like restoring radios.. the bottom fell out of the antique market, and most young people arent; very interested usually , maybe a time will come where antiques are appreciated again, hard to say. i just do different restorations in my own time it for personal interest, not to make money. I love playng snooker so it can sort of all dovetail together.. Ill practice on this 10 foot table and Ill play a little better when I play my friends on their old 6x12... no way a 6x 12 will fit in my house. the 10 footer will be cozy, but possible. my girlfriend and i like to get an hour or two in after work and it's helping. I only care about getting better than myself.

restoring stuff gives me time to contemplate and loose track of time, pool gives me more social time, I like a mix of both.
 
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Bob Jewett said:
I suppose the chalk holder would be an interesting conversation piece but these days no competent player would have much interest in using one.
Click to expand...
My favorite chalk holder is my right front pocket. There are even times I hold it in my bridge hand when shooting. the rest of those gimmicks are strictly that.
 
They hung from the ceiling on a string system with the badge weights, there were also chalk "cups" that screwed up under the rail and swung out, you put the chalk in there when you were done with it and swung it back under to keep from getting it on your clothes. I had a pull down chalk holder that worked like a metal tape measure, only one I ever saw like it , and something else I wish I had never sold.
 
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