Brunswick & Balke Pool/Billiard Table

J.M. Brunswick and Balke Co. Combiniation Pool and Billiard Table The table has H.W. Collender Chalk Cups under the head and foot rails. The cloth on the table is new Simonis 860. The pockets are rare G-Irons. Because they were so hard to install, these pockets went out of production before the turn of the century. The pockets still have their original leathers and metallic silk fringe. The irons fit perfectly flush with the rail caps and the back of the pocket is elevated with an arch to force the ball downwards upon entry. The table is fitted with Tensite J9 from about 1910. In its day, Tensite was a competitor and comparable to Monarch Cushions. Even vintage J9 is far superior to any current rubber on the market. For playability, the vintage J9 has not been replaced. All the center rail bolts are covered with a hand painted gilt bronze Egyptian Revival heads. The two outside rail bolts are covered chased bronze rosettes. The slates consist of four slabs of the finest green Vermont slate. At 11/8" thick, the slates make for a great playing table. Most Victorian slates were thinner. The slates have no cracks or chips. During the 1870's , pool not billiards were transitioning into the game of choice for the American public. In the early 1870's, H.W. Collender invented the Combination Block which allowed the rapid conversion of a pool table to a billiard table or vice versa. These original Combination Blocks have been fitted with new rubber and Simonis cloth. The Combo is both a billiard and a pool table. The feet have bronze bases to protect them from kicking damage. The main body is made of Brazillian Rosewood, the rails are made of East Indian Rosewood, and the bandings are made of Kingwood. Secondary woods used are Poplar and Oak. 23K gold, gilt-bronze, Ivory, Mother Of Pearl and Abalone detail. Woods used for inlay: ebony, birdseye maple, green poplar, birdseye maple burl, sycamore, California walnut burl, amboyna, walnut, mahogany and tulip. c.1880 Exterior dimensions 96 inches by 54 inches. In 1845, J.M. Brusnwick manufactured the first American billiard table in Cinncinatti Ohio. J.M. Brunswick and Bro, were formed in 1857. After minor name changes, in 1869, J.M. Brunswick merged with Julius Balke to form the J.M. Brunswick & Balke Co. (hereafter B&B Co.) In 1879, B&B Co., established a factory showroom, and office at 655 Market in San Francisco. Also, in 1879, J.M. Brunswick & Bro. are listed in the San Francisco Directoy as a table manufactory. All these names and dates are significant in determining the provenance of this J.M. Brunswick and Balke Combination Pool and Billiard Table. (hereafter called the Combo.) The slates are a full 11/8" green Vermont slate. They are stamped on the bottom J.M. Brunswick and Balke Co. 212 Market St. Cinn., Ohio. The frame is stamped in Victorian Script J.M.B & BRO. The knockdown supporting members are assembled using a stud and bracket system. The cast iron pieces of this system are stamped Kemph & Knecht Cin.O. The B&B Co. nameplate is engraved April 27, 1880. A dated nameplate is a rarity. The carom plugs are dated April 13, 1880. The fact that the Combo is inscribed with all the names and dates would indicate that it is an Extra Grade Table. The inlaid designs would also support this assumption. For instance, the rails are inlaid with a pattern similiar to an early Nonpareil Novelty. The feet are inlaid with a pattern similiar to what would become a standard Eclipse design. The main body inlay is similar to a Monarch, even though the panels are straight. The skirts are similiar in design to a Monarch. All these inlay designs on the Combo are more elaborate than the designs that would become standard on the above mentioned tables. The Combo could have been an Exhibition table or a one of a kind model that B&B Co. advertised in their catalogs. The Combo was purchased in San Francisco from an elderly widow in 1969. She said it had been stored in her mansion attic as long as she could remember. The Combo has never been in a poolroom or played on for at least 70 years. This history is exemplyfied in the current condition of the Combo. that is, the table is in mint condition, including some original paint. All parts on the Combo are stamped #2064. This is a very low number for a company that produced thousands of tables. Restored by Tony Bowles January 2003