Round Cue Chalk

Pangit

Pangit

Banned
It used to be popular. Now it's a "collectors" item. It makes more sense than square chalk. The only difference for the manufacturer is mold shape. I brush the chalk on the tip. I'm always "working" the corners trying to keep it level. The label "wears" off on it's own.

And for the folks who tend to quickly bore a hole through the center of their chalk, (always tell, chalk ring on the ferrule) there is no difference??? Seems like a win/win to switch back to round chalk.
 
Pangit said:
It used to be popular. Now it's a "collectors" item. It makes more sense than square chalk. The only difference for the manufacturer is mold shape. I brush the chalk on the tip. I'm always "working" the corners trying to keep it level. The label "wears" off on it's own.

And for the folks who tend to quickly bore a hole through the center of their chalk, (always tell, chalk ring on the ferrule) there is no difference??? Seems like a win/win to switch back to round chalk.
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I suspect it would keep rolling off the rail and chip or get stepped on on the floor.
 
Are you talking about the round chalk holder's that hung from the corners of the table back in the olden day's? If not please explain.
 
Like this, from about 1916:

roundManhattan.gif

This is from a Brunswick catalog of the time.

I've seen a single piece of this chalk go for $300 in Ebay (in its own little metal can).

I think round chalk might actually train players to be careful about putting the chalk on the rail with the face up.
 
Bob Jewett said:
I think round chalk might actually train players to be careful about putting the chalk on the rail with the face up.
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Agreed.

Not many negatives of cylindrical chalk; falling to the floor then rolling away is the only one off the top of my head.
 
The falling off the table and rolling away is probably what led to it's downfall. It looks cool though. I'd use it for sure.
 
The move to square was probably a packaging thing...no dead air in boxes when the item is square.
 
Round chalk pretty much disappeared around WWII

decent dennis said:
Anybody know when round chalk disappeared, was there square at the same time.
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As far as the older generation of round chalk made by a major manufacturer, the last was probably Clik by Brunswick, around WWII, and round Clik is surprisingly rare. I know an advanced chalk collector who has never had the chance to buy a piece. On the other hand I know a guy who has half a gross and won't sell any because he thinks that half a gross is some kind of even unit. Nice guy, but his kids will sell it in the yard sale after he's gone. Contact me if you have any good old chalks, I have a big collection of it. I just bought a piece of Ralph Greenleaf chalk with Greenleaf's actual autograph on the piece ~ that's so good I might as well retire from collecting as a champion.
Square chalk was sold side-by-side with round chalk. Brunswick's Manhattan Club had many permutations based on round, square, blue, green, single-sided, double-sided. I have examples of each possible combination except square, double-sided blue- I think. The earliest chalk manufactured as a product was square white chalk.
 
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Dangit , Pangit , ya shoulda kept yer trap shut , contracted for the manufacture of 10,000,000 units and gotten rich !
Now some sharpster is gonna steal yer idear !:rolleyes:
 
Just buy some of that new chalk they are all talking about and make the little cube into an 11mm round.
Cut into 3 pieces, one for you and sell the others. At 27 mm long, it will last quit well and you can't bore a hole in it unless you have a 9mm tip.
 
hunger strike said:
As far as the older generation of round chalk made by a major manufacturer, the last was probably Clik by Brunswick, around WWII, and round Clik is surprisingly rare. I know an advanced chalk collector who has never had the chance to buy a piece. On the other hand I know a guy who has half a gross and won't sell any because he thinks that half a gross is some kind of even unit. Nice guy, but his kids will sell it in the yard sale after he's gone. Contact me if you have any good old chalks, I have a big collection of it. I just bought a piece of Ralph Greenleaf chalk with Greenleaf's actual autograph on the piece ~ that's so good I might as well retire from collecting as a champion.
Square chalk was sold side-by-side with round chalk. Brunswick's Manhattan Club had many permutations based on round, square, blue, green, single-sided, double-sided. I have examples of each possible combination except square, double-sided blue- I think. The earliest chalk manufactured as a product was square white chalk.
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You a "serious" Collector. Most folks don't have a clue about the value of vintage chalk??? A slice of History. It's like the antiques road show. I wish I had the capital to invest in it...
 
Chalk "investment" .....

If you see a great piece of chalk on ebay, the first time, don't bid on it if you don't have the extra money. Sellers have gotten wise, so they think, and put the chalks on one at a time. The first one sells high. Because nobody knows if there are any more. Used to be the second one sold for maybe half, and slowly cheaper. Now, the price usually drops off more quickly and you can get a great chalk for cheap by the third sale. Right now, there is a super-rare type on ebay. Manhattan Club Double-Sided (there is no label on the bottom) - This should be about a $75 piece, but they are down to like $23 buy it now. A bargain, trust me. There are not many double sided chalks out there because what kind of dunce would have wanted a flat profile chalk that could only be put on the rail chalk-side down? People hated chalk on the rail, even then. You should also buy from the Mexican seller that sells the more modern chalks in big lots. Lots of variety there for the money. Think how much it would cost you to get all those types by flying around the globe like he did. It's like he is giving it away for free. Some collectors would burn $50 in gasoline for the chance to get something in an antique show or store, but they won't bid up this guy's lots of variety chalk. Gotta start somewhere. Tip: I don't think people have made fake chalks, but seems like they would considering prices. But just to make sure, buy the chalks with the metallic labels, like gold or silver inks. Nobody would bother to spend what it would take to fake that.
 
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