Any Idea Who Made This Old Pool Table?

10/18/2016 8:04:46 PM

Any Idea Who Made This Old Pool Table?

I am going to pick up a Craig's list freebie this weekend.

Anyone know who made this pool table?

The owner doesn't know what kind of pool table it is. He says the felt is in great shape and that it is a 3-piece slate 8 foot pool table.

It looks like the triangle badge is missing in the picture.

I'm just hoping it's worth going and taking it apart and doing all of that work involved in moving and re-installing the pool table. As in, will it even be playable? If it's nothing special, I will be willing to paint or stain the pool table.

Any info would be great. Thanks!

nbest

Any Idea Who Made This Old Pool Table?

Replies & Comments

billiardsforum on 10/18/2016 9:23:23 PM
So this old billiard table is available to you for free (other than your cost to move and set-up)?

That looks to be an older Brunswick pool table (though there were many knock-offs), so it is hard to tell in the small photos and without knowing if there are any name plates or patent labels or markings underneath. I would date it late 1800s. The reason I am thinking that is you typically see the ornamental pieces under the side walls on those older tables from the 1800s. Leg style also points to that era, but hard to tell for sure based on the low-res photos and no marking or name-plate info.

But regardless, it looks to be an antique Brunswick Balke Collender pool table which is likely quite old, and for free, I would absolutely snap it up.

A fully restored and VERY similar model was on eBay a while back for $40,000 dollars (though the restoration is top notch, and would account for a majority of that price). It is not EXACTLY as the one is in your photos but it is very close.

BIN price $45,000 USD

Item location: Wylie, Texas, United States

1875 Restored Brunswick Brothers pool table. 8' Oversize table. Play surface is 46 x 92 inches. Table is totally restored in every way. Rails are solid rosewood. Multiple exotic inlays. The frame is attached via unusual locking system in addition to doweled and bolted. Serial numbers match on every piece including the 4 piece slate.

The wood on all pieces is Rosewood. Table price includes everything -- Centennial Pool Balls, Brush, Choice of Simonis cloth (any color), Triangle, cues, delivery and set-up local to Dallas, Texas. Additional delivery fee if delivered in other states.

Call Jeff with questions at (214) 298-3689.

Also take a look on the net for "Brunswick Deleware Pool Table" (see the first reply) - that one is coming to mind when I look at your photos. Might point you in the right direction. But I think yours is perhaps older.

Also this one below, which was just described online as an "antique Brunswick billiard table" also looks similar, but obviously doesn't have some of the detail as yours.

Also, I am suggesting that it might be a Brunswick Balke pool table because of the shape of the missing manufacturer tag... Here are two Brunswick Balke Collender Co. examples from the 1800s:

...and regarding the post-editing... we just launched a new site design recently and that feature was buggy. The edit feature should be back soon.

nbest on 10/18/2016 9:46:04 PM
Hey thanks for the info ! Yeah I thought I was just going crazy and couldn't find the edit button. I appreciate all the info. Really wanted to make sure it was worth going and getting. If it's a antique I definitely will look into restoring it or leaving it in its current state. I'm going Saturday to pick it up and will see what I can find. I have to completely take it apart.

Thanks again !

billiardsforum on 10/18/2016 9:57:31 PM
Awesome find. Let us know what markings you find on it when you get it all apart. Photos of any plates or markings would be great.

nbest on 10/21/2016 9:32:19 AM
So I have been reading up online and notice everyone saying you should have the table professionally set up. I'm pretty handy and so are my friends even more than me. My question is should i attempt to do it or not? Spoke with one guy he wanted 400-$600 to just set up!! Not including new felt. Seems crazy high or is that normal?

He did take a look at the pics and said it's definitely a Brunswick from the 1800's. Said without seeing it valued at $1500-3000 With a restore costing $4000-6000 it would then be valued between $15,000 - 25,000 😳

I'm definitely going to figure out some more people to call in my area. I will more than likely end up selling it and getting another table but I'am not ruling out a restoration.

billiardsforum on 10/21/2016 10:39:34 AM
$600 is steep for just labor to set up the table, but about right for labor to set up and re-cloth the table with an average quality pool table cloth. The price might be higher than normal because it is a very old pool table and could be more difficult to set up and level properly e.g. more time and "jiggering" might be needed to get it to play "true" than would be needed for a newer pool table.

Are you just having new cloth put on the table, or are you replacing the rubber as well?

I think it is good advice to have a professional take care of it. For example, you can get into situations where the slate pieces don't line up, etc. and someone with experience in that area (and access to the proper adhesives, glues, compounds, etc.) can easily handle it.

I have heard over and over again, too many times to count, that with pool table service, you get what you pay for.

But I will say it again, it is a fantastic find regardless (e.g. it is free).

Even at $5,000 to restore the pool table, assuming it takes a year to complete, and lets say you can then sell it for $15,000, that is a 200% return on your investment of $5000, over a very short time period. Hard to find those kind of returns anywhere!

Either way I think you should still go get the table. At least get it to your place before someone else snaps it up. Then you can take some time and get quotes, review the options, etc...

Thanks for the update. Would still love some pics if you can find a label or any other markings, etc when you get it apart.

jana on 10/21/2016 10:42:59 AM
Did someone paint parts of it red? I don't recall any Brunswick pool tables from the 1800s era having red feet and molding like that. But either way, great pool table.

nbest on 10/21/2016 10:49:27 AM
Exactly my thoughts on the set up. That quote was just for set up. I will say the guy is based waaaayyyy out of my area I'm sure that has to do with the price too. I will definitely post pics and such going tomorrow morning.

billiardsforum on 10/21/2016 10:53:18 AM
Where are you located roughly?

nbest on 10/21/2016 11:09:15 AM
I have no idea about the red but I would assume someone painted it. That's the one part about the table that drives me nuts lol. I was going to paint it until I posted this and got some info about the table. I was just looking for a cheap table to play on. Now I'm going to be all overprotective when people are over 😂

nbest on 10/21/2016 11:34:01 AM
I'm in metro Detroit area

nbest on 10/24/2016 6:31:38 PM
So I pick up the table here is the conclusion I came up up with after speaking to multiple people.
- As is, it is worth $1,500
- Restoration would cost $5,000 - $7,500
- Retail value after restoration: $15,000
I'm thinking about just trading it for a table so I can do what I planned on doing... playing pool lol

This guy is offering me a 8' Olhausen laminate even trade with new sticks/balls

Or a 8' Hippopotamus which is not laminate ( which I have never heard of that brand ) but he wants me to pay him $250 for this one

That's delivered and installed with my choice of felt too.

Anyone heard of hippopotamus tables? I guess they were bought out about 10 years ago

billiardsforum on 10/24/2016 7:22:22 PM
LOL this ordeal is just one decision after another for you...

I have never played on a Hippopotamus pool table before, but I believe they were very high quality. They made a lot of other solid wood game room furniture as well, if I remember correctly. Personally, I would opt for the solid wood Hippopotamus pool table over the laminate. But that's just my personal gut feeling.

Bet you could negotiate away the $250 if it seems like the guy really wants your table. Just tell him you have absolutely zero funds available for this, and remind him of the profits he'll have coming after a restore and ask him if he is going to throw away the deal over a few hundred... Tell him you'd rather keep your table over having a laminate table.

Either way though, the laminate table is an Olhausen so even that would be a quality build.

Guess it also depends on what fits with your decor also... they are very different in look and architecture.

nbest on 10/24/2016 8:31:21 PM
LOL, I know it is a big fun hassle! Yeah the hippo would fit perfectly and I like it. I just never heard of them wanted to make sure they are not crap. I tried to get him down to 150 on it already but no dice. Thanks for all the info, I really appreciate it!

Any Idea Who Made This Old Pool Table?

Title: Any Idea Who Made This Old Pool Table?
Author: nbest (Nick Best)
Published: 10/18/2016 8:04:46 PM
Last Updated: 10/22/2016 10:54:34 PM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)