Table Help!

S

Skully

Registered
First thing I’m new here and this is my 1st post. I’ve been away from the pool/billiard scene for quit some time. Back around Christmas I got “bit” by the bug again from just picking a stick up at a party to pass the time. Needless to say I forgot how much I loved the game. I got out some old books and magazines I had stored away in the attic and have also bought some more online to satisfy my craving for the game. Just can’t seem to get enough of it now. I’m sure some of you know what I mean. So fast-forward I’ve been looking for a table. When I was in my late teens early 20’s I had bought an 8 ft Olhausen table. That was before they were well known. Looking back on it, it wasn’t all that great of a table but a good starter table, but a table nonetheless. It was actually the first piece of furniture I ever bought. At that age I had to get my priorities in line, “hum pool table or new bed.. lets see…” lol. Anyway the table went as soon as I got married and had children. Now divorced and that the kids are older coupled with my new “Old Love” again I wanted/needed a table again. I found a table not to far from where I’m at on Craigslist. It turned out that the seller had bough 4 tables from a local college that was getting them out of their Rec room. One was a Brunswick Sportking and the other one was a Gandy. Both were 9 ft tables which is what I wanted. After looking at them very close I just had to have one of them but which one. The seller told me he had them for sale online for about a month and was ready to get rid of them because they were taking up space in his garage. I had mentioned that I was having a hard time choosing between the two. Now bare in mind that they were not spotless but I could see right away that they were not junk either. Long story short we talk for a while and he said if I’d take both of them he’d cut me a deal. Now after the exchange of $550.00 I’m the proud owner of a Brunswick & Gandy 9 ft tables. Only thing is I know that the both of them are Brand names but that all I know. I don’t know anything about either of them. Does anyone have any information on either of them? The Brunswick is missing the lower metal corner/miters. Does anyone know where I could find replacements parts? I’m going to post on the “items wanted” section to see if I can find some that way too. Any help, info and/or comments, good or bad, will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

Skully
 
if you post in the "ask a Mechanic" section, with pictures (important above all), you will have your answers. Congratulations on what sounds to be a steal of a deal on a couple of nice tables!
 
Skully said:
First thing I’m new here and this is my 1st post. I’ve been away from the pool/billiard scene for quit some time. Back around Christmas I got “bit” by the bug again from just picking a stick up at a party to pass the time. Needless to say I forgot how much I loved the game. I got out some old books and magazines I had stored away in the attic and have also bought some more online to satisfy my craving for the game. Just can’t seem to get enough of it now. I’m sure some of you know what I mean. So fast-forward I’ve been looking for a table. When I was in my late teens early 20’s I had bought an 8 ft Olhausen table. That was before they were well known. Looking back on it, it wasn’t all that great of a table but a good starter table, but a table nonetheless. It was actually the first piece of furniture I ever bought. At that age I had to get my priorities in line, “hum pool table or new bed.. lets see…” lol. Anyway the table went as soon as I got married and had children. Now divorced and that the kids are older coupled with my new “Old Love” again I wanted/needed a table again. I found a table not to far from where I’m at on Craigslist. It turned out that the seller had bough 4 tables from a local college that was getting them out of their Rec room. One was a Brunswick Sportking and the other one was a Gandy. Both were 9 ft tables which is what I wanted. After looking at them very close I just had to have one of them but which one. The seller told me he had them for sale online for about a month and was ready to get rid of them because they were taking up space in his garage. I had mentioned that I was having a hard time choosing between the two. Now bare in mind that they were not spotless but I could see right away that they were not junk either. Long story short we talk for a while and he said if I’d take both of them he’d cut me a deal. Now after the exchange of $550.00 I’m the proud owner of a Brunswick & Gandy 9 ft tables. Only thing is I know that the both of them are Brand names but that all I know. I don’t know anything about either of them. Does anyone have any information on either of them? The Brunswick is missing the lower metal corner/miters. Does anyone know where I could find replacements parts? I’m going to post on the “items wanted” section to see if I can find some that way too. Any help, info and/or comments, good or bad, will be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance!!

Skully
Click to expand...

I would get rid of the brunswick (sportking is a low end model) and use the money to set up the Gandy properly as they are better tables

if you want parts and info I would re-post this in the mechanic section.
 
Thanks all! I'm still new to the "forum" thing so forgive me. How would I re-post this to the "mechanic section?
 
You can leave this thread where it is and post a new thread in the Ask the Mechanic forum. Just go to the main page and enter that forum and hit the New Thread button, just like you did here.

Welcome to AZ Billiards.

BTW, if your looking for parts to older tables, try Ken at:

http://www.classicbilliards.net/
 
Doubt you will get same answer in Mechanic's section

matteroner said:
I would get rid of the brunswick (sportking is a low end model) and use the money to set up the Gandy properly as they are better tables

if you want parts and info I would re-post this in the mechanic section.
Click to expand...

Brunswick hasn't made the Sportking model in many years. When they did it was one of the best tables they made. Jackie Gleason had a Sportking in his home, and he could afford the best table on the market at that time. I wound up with that table and would still have it today if it had been a 9 footer instead of as oversized 8.

If you keep the Sportking (right thing to do IMO) post in the Mechanic's section about the parts you need. You will get an anwser.
 
M HOUSE said:
Brunswick hasn't made the Sportking model in many years. When they did it was one of the best tables they made. Jackie Gleason had a Sportking in his home, and he could afford the best table on the market at that time. I wound up with that table and would still have it today if it had been a 9 footer instead of as oversized 8.

If you keep the Sportking (right thing to do IMO) post in the Mechanic's section about the parts you need. You will get an anwser.
Click to expand...

oh you know Jackie wanted an Anniversary ....i didn't mean to say it was a crap table ....i just think the gandy would play better and look nicer ....i find the sportking looks a little cheap .....probably plays fine
 
Thanks all! I was fortunate to be able to see both tables up and beside each other. The seller had them in a big garage at his place of business so I was able to “test drive” them with a Cue Ball. When I was comparing the two I don’t know how to explain it but I was initially drawn to the Sportking not necessarily because of the Brunswick name but just because of the way it looked. I could see right away that I would be able to replace the apron with a nice piece of wood and stain it to match the top rails. I’ve got to replace the lower metal corner covers/miters as someone in the past had removed them for reason unknown. Why would you remove them? Did they break or dent easy? That part remains a mystery to me but anyway I’ve got to replace them. Someone had taken some roof “flashing” and had wrapped it around the corners and affixed it to the apron. It doesn’t affect play in anyway as it appears to be just cosmetic. At first you don’t notice but on closer examination you see it. When I saw it and the make up of the apron I immediately said to myself that “hey I can put a piece of solid wood here and stain it just right and man this thing would be cool”. Both table aprons were constructed with what appears to be Particle or “Pressed” board with a wood grain laminate/veneer glued to it. I guess my attraction to the SK could be that this is a table that’s maybe 45 – 50 years old. One of my first thoughts was I wonder how much “action” this table has seen over the years and the stories it could tell if it could. Call it Nostalgia. I love to hear and read about “road stories” from times long gone by. Anyway, I’m assuming here that the SK is older than the Gandy just by looking at the styling but I could be wrong. The SK has this big, bold, round look to it circa the early 60”s and the G has this sleek, low, long look to it circa the 70’s. The Gandy looked bigger side by side but the “tape” doesn’t lie, the SK was actually bigger. I swear it looked smaller but from inside rail to inside rail it measured 50”X100” on both and both top rails were around 7 inches or so wide. On my first “home” table, an 8 ft Olhausen, the rails were smaller say around 4” or so wide. I really like the wide rails over the smaller ones. Anyway the rails on the SK seemed faster and more responsive. The CB seemed to roll for days and this was even with a commercial grade rubber backed cloth on it. I can’t wait to put Simonis on it. So now I’ve got to decide which one do I set up and which one do I sell. Right from the start it’s going to more expensive for the SK since I need all 4 corners and the G only really needs 1. So economically the G is going to be better but here is where I’m not sure. Would the SK be the better investment given the Brunswick name and history or the Gandy since they’re no longer in business? Would either of these tables be considered collector items or are they tables that are in demand and people readily restore. Here again I don’t know and that’s why I’m here. I’ve been away far too long! What do all of you think? I value everyone’s opinion! Also would this 9 ft Gandy be what they call a “Big G”?

Thanks all!
Skully
 
Win either way

I was lucky enough to get a Sport king for free on craigslist and You cant beat this site for info. I kept the original cushions cleaned them up and put glycerin to help refresh the rubber. I had the pockets double shimmed and Simonis 860 cloth, and painted everything black except for top laminate. My brother has a GC3 and says my table plays so much better! I like Big Gs as well but I think You convinced yourself into the SK. Its a good problem I would sell the G and take the $ and get the SK corners. Good luck photo[2].JPG
 
M HOUSE said:
Brunswick hasn't made the Sportking model in many years. When they did it was one of the best tables they made. Jackie Gleason had a Sportking in his home, and he could afford the best table on the market at that time. I wound up with that table and would still have it today if it had been a 9 footer instead of as oversized 8.

If you keep the Sportking (right thing to do IMO) post in the Mechanic's section about the parts you need. You will get an anwser.
Click to expand...

I'm glad you said that......
..I would tromp over a dozen Gandys to get at a Sportking
 
Sportking table

I helped a buddy restore and setup a sportking that is an excellent table and plays well. That table came with monarch cushions and may well still have the original rubber on them. The one my buddy got did and they were still lively even though fifty plus years old. I would keep the sportking and sell the gandy if it were me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top