When did plastic balls begin?
- Thread starter Bobby
- Start date
If you're talking about the modern phenolic balls, they were replacing the clay balls by the late 50's and early 60's. I'm pretty sure that was what we played with at the Stardust and Johnston City events in the 1960's. By the late 60's, you rarely saw any clay balls, except in some of the older poolrooms.
Celluloid is derived from cellulose and alcoholized camphor. John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid as a substitute for the ivory in billiard balls in 1868. He first tried using collodion a natural substance, after spilling a bottle of it and discovering that the material dried into a tough and flexible film. However, the material was not strong enough to be used as a billiard ball, until the addition of camphor, a derivative of the laurel tree. The new celluloid could be molded with heat and pressure into a durable shape.
Besides billiard balls, celluloid became famous as the first flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures. John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid in a strip format for movie film. By 1900, movie film was an exploding market for celluloid.
Besides billiard balls, celluloid became famous as the first flexible photographic film used for still photography and motion pictures. John Wesley Hyatt created celluloid in a strip format for movie film. By 1900, movie film was an exploding market for celluloid.
As soon as the plastic balls were invented, I'd guess. See the post on John Wesley Hyatt.
Fred
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wesley_Hyatt
According to this, Hyatt got a patent to produce billiard balls, among other things, in 1870.
According to this, Hyatt got a patent to produce billiard balls, among other things, in 1870.
Thanks Jay. I know some players who didn't like the change saying the clay balls didn't skid.