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Hi all, stumbled upon this site looking for info! I’m only a casual bar player for fun. Found out some basics about a Vintage Billiard Ball set from Harold Holt Billiards Ltd, George Street, Blackpool. I was hoping someone could help me with some info on my set. There are 3 balls 2 white and one orange. They all have hairline cracks and dents so were obviously well used! The box is in ok condition (part of label missing. There is also a sticker with 1 5/8” on it (don’t know if that’s size or money?). So Blackpool Billards took over in 1959 from Harold Holt Billiards. Alas!! My question is does anyone know what the balls were made of and any idea of their value? I have not been successful uploading a pic 💁🏼♀️. Think my Grandad from Manchester probably got them from pub gamble or back of lorry……. Any input welcome! Cheers n thanks for reading.
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Up the TSF! :snooker: -
Three balls - English Pocket Billiards setOriginally Posted by Perri View Post
1 x white plain
1 x white with small spots (2 usually)
1x red ball (discoloured to orange-ish)
1 5/8" = size
standard size for a full size table (12x6 ft) is 2" so these are a small set for possibly a half-size table (6x3ft)
Harold Holt was around since 1920s at the address given, until as you say Blackpoll Billiards Works took over in 1959.
Material, if pre-WWII the material could be ivory but during the 20s-30s there were many attempts to find a replacement material, after WWII, ivory usage had stopped.
there are others more knowledgeable on "balls" than me, so I hope they pop on and give there thoughts
Up the TSF! :snooker:Comment
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Probably Bonzoline or Crystalate balls made from cellulose nitrate combined with camphor (known as celluloid). These were made once a substitute was needed for ivory. Some back ground here:- https://www.snookerheritage.co.uk/no...snooker-balls/
Heres and example price - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185674325...Bk9SR673ndaXYQLast edited by Cue crafty; 28 November 2022, 08:46 AM.⚪ 🔴🟡🟢🟤🔵💗⚫🕳️😎Comment
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Harold Holt converted to a limited company about 1950-51, and as mentioned elsewhere, the business was taken over by Blackpool Billiard Works in 1959, following Harold’s death. So your box was produced during the 1950s.
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Could be a set for bar billiards, don't see many bar billiards tables around these days as UK 8 ball pool has pretty much taken over.Speak up, you've got to speak up against the madness, you've got speak your mind if you dare
but don't try to get yourself elected, for if you do you'll have to cut your hairComment
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ah love the Bar BilliardsOriginally Posted by vmax View Post
Two pubs near me have a table.
I used to be in the local league but that fizzled to nowt many years ago.
Some years ago we went to one of the pubs with a previous pool league team and three of the team of early 20s age had never seen the game. I took a few minutes explaining the game and the rules (oxford shot etc.) and they spent the whole night on the game only coming off to play their pool game - they loved it
Bar Billiard balls are 1 7/8in are they not and also 7 whites; I still plumb for these OP balls being English Billiard balls for a small table
hopefully a photo will pop up soon
Up the TSF! :snooker:Comment
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Perri - read carefully the instructions as you do each step
Maybe it is the "Do not autodelete" step?Up the TSF! :snooker:Comment
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