Michael Dunham Cues and Karnehm and Hillman Billiard Tables

[100-uper]

Thanks for your reminder for me to reply to this one Bongo.

Unfortunately I can't tell you when Karnehm & Hillman finished, and I know nothing about cues, so I was hoping that someone else in the forum may have known the answer to this question.

What I can tell you is that the business was started in 1965 by W. G. Hillman, who was essentially operating as a billiard table renovation service, also selling second hand tables under the style of "W. G. Hillman (Billiards)." When Jack Karnehm came into the business in 1971 they changed their trading name to "Jack Karnehm & W. G. Hillman Billiard Supply Co." In 1973 this company became incorporated as a limited company (so "Ltd" appears after the name), and they changed their name again in 1979 to "Karnehm & Hillman Ltd." So if you see any of these names on a table or cue, those are their earliest dates.

Jack Karnehm was at the height of his fame and influence at this time, and their "Magnus" table was selected for the World Professional Snooker Championships between 1977-1979. In 1980 they opened a new factory and showroom at Langley in Berkshire and in that year supplied the table for the Professional Billiards Championship.

At this time they were turning out a wide range of tables which were mainly going into the new snooker clubs opening on the back of the snooker boom. I'm not sure when this particular bubble burst, but no doubt the details appear in Snooker Scene if you want to trawl through the back issues.

[bongo]

Hi 100-uper,
Thanks for your reply. I really appreciate it. It was when I was watching a video by Jack Karnehm called 'Understanding Modern Snooker' and it was before I knew that this forum existed and I wanted to know more about Karnehm and Hillman Billiards and Snooker Tables (and the company intself), I then came across this forum and I posted the question and I got quite a lot of replies and they were all very informative and polite.

It does not matter that you can't find anything about the cues, I got a reply from ADR147 showing me pictures.

So thanks to ADR147 and 100-uper, for your informative and polite answers.

[ADR147]

that cue is on ebay now if you want it! - got to clear some space! 260201841522

[tivoli147]

Hi Karnhem and Hillman are no longer in business. Jack Karnhem died about 5 years ago. I actually bought Jack`s personal table from his partner Bill Hillman. It now graces a lovely billiard room in Dubai, where we delivered and installed it. There is a picture on our website www.taysidesnooker.co.uk/ant.html

[bongo]

I actually bought Jack`s personal table from his partner Bill Hillman.

Cool! You do not normally get that chance!

[faramoose]

Karnehm and hillman table

Hi There,

I saw this post on the forum and it seems to me that you have more knowledge about Karnehm and Hillman than I can find anyware, in you post you talk about the 1980 World Championship Billiard tables that they made, Now the question is do you have any idea how much one of these would be worth as have one and was potentially looking to sell it.

Kind Regards,
Faramoose.

Unfortunately I can't tell you when Karnehm & Hillman finished, and I know nothing about cues, so I was hoping that someone else in the forum may have known the answer to this question.

What I can tell you is that the business was started in 1965 by W. G. Hillman, who was essentially operating as a billiard table renovation service, also selling second hand tables under the style of "W. G. Hillman (Billiards)." When Jack Karnehm came into the business in 1971 they changed their trading name to "Jack Karnehm & W. G. Hillman Billiard Supply Co." In 1973 this company became incorporated as a limited company (so "Ltd" appears after the name), and they changed their name again in 1979 to "Karnehm & Hillman Ltd." So if you see any of these names on a table or cue, those are their earliest dates.

Jack Karnehm was at the height of his fame and influence at this time, and their "Magnus" table was selected for the World Professional Snooker Championships between 1977-1979. In 1980 they opened a new factory and showroom at Langley in Berkshire and in that year supplied the table for the Professional Billiards Championship.

At this time they were turning out a wide range of tables which were mainly going into the new snooker clubs opening on the back of the snooker boom. I'm not sure when this particular bubble burst, but no doubt the details appear in Snooker Scene if you want to trawl through the back issues.[/QUOTE]

[jb134]

Louise Hillmans, daughter of Bill, is a Scottish International pool player and lives in or near Inverness.

She has a Hunt and O'Byrne cue that I covet but sadly, will never own.

[platt]

in 82 we had 13 of these tables in or club....they were very good club tables....... i will try and get some pictures for you soon.....

[circle]

hmmm

Where i play they have a K&H match table, it should be turned in to match sticks, its awful!

[Russ]

Where i play they have a K&H match table, it should be turned in to match sticks, its awful!

That surprises me, I've heard that they were one of the best table manufacturers around at the time, maybe it needs some maintenance work?

Russ

[ryanah147]

Hi There,

I saw this post on the forum and it seems to me that you have more knowledge about Karnehm and Hillman than I can find anyware, in you post you talk about the 1980 World Championship Billiard tables that they made, Now the question is do you have any idea how much one of these would be worth as have one and was potentially looking to sell it.

Kind Regards,
Faramoose.

Unfortunately I can't tell you when Karnehm & Hillman finished, and I know nothing about cues, so I was hoping that someone else in the forum may have known the answer to this question.

What I can tell you is that the business was started in 1965 by W. G. Hillman, who was essentially operating as a billiard table renovation service, also selling second hand tables under the style of "W. G. Hillman (Billiards)." When Jack Karnehm came into the business in 1971 they changed their trading name to "Jack Karnehm & W. G. Hillman Billiard Supply Co." In 1973 this company became incorporated as a limited company (so "Ltd" appears after the name), and they changed their name again in 1979 to "Karnehm & Hillman Ltd." So if you see any of these names on a table or cue, those are their earliest dates.

Jack Karnehm was at the height of his fame and influence at this time, and their "Magnus" table was selected for the World Professional Snooker Championships between 1977-1979. In 1980 they opened a new factory and showroom at Langley in Berkshire and in that year supplied the table for the Professional Billiards Championship.

At this time they were turning out a wide range of tables which were mainly going into the new snooker clubs opening on the back of the snooker boom. I'm not sure when this particular bubble burst, but no doubt the details appear in Snooker Scene if you want to trawl through the back issues.

[/QUOTE]

Just looking through my Snooker Table file I can see on the 15th January 1995 I ordered a Corner Alloy Pocket plate from Karnehm & Hillman. The address I used was Windsor. I dont know if they were still in business or not at that time, or if the Royal Mail re-directed my mail to their then present address, but I did receive the pocket plate in the post a few days later.
K&H table I find a treat to work on, the only grieveance I have with them are the pocket plates which are liable to snap off at the `lugs`if given any bit of rough play... outside that, excellent table

[circle]

hmmm

That surprises me, I've heard that they were one of the best table manufacturers around at the time, maybe it needs some maintenance work?

Russ

The table was manufactured around 1993, its well maintained and recovered twice a year. It plays so inconsistently and the cushions are a lottery!

All this has been looked at several times - to no avail


This table can destroy your confidence!

[ryanah147]

Get the cushions reblocked and rubbered, making sure they use Northern rubber. Get cushion cloths (Strachan 6811), and if this job is done by a competent fitter, your cushion worries are over.

[Frying Scotsman]

I got one of these tables on ebay for £149-bit of a bargain!
I havent set it up yet due to no wife permission and work but its in good nick and I played on an identical model a while back in Falkirk and found it to be nice to play on.Im not saying that my one will be the same but for £149 I was willing to take a chance

[jb134]

You need to buy yiur wife a pair of £149 shoes mate and say she can't wear them until the table is up.

She'll break first!