Category Archives: News

I was treated to a viewing of the pre fly over practice run of the 100 year celebration at RAf Cranwell last week
and today watched it on TV flying over the Mall LIVE !

all the aircraft had took off from RAF Conningsby and where to fly over the Dome tower at RAF Cranwell .
I took a few photo’s on my phone of a few planes as they flew over , the first to arrive where the Chinook’s Helicopters .

the Helicopter formation arriving from the East over RAF  Cranwell Airfield approaching from the East .

and as they passed overhead , they made a right racket those twin rotor Chinook’s .

a few more Fighter planes going over in formation .

and as they approached

Awacs early warning radar .detection plane

another wave of fighter jets .

formation approaching

another formation going overhead

and a few more

the reason I was at RAF Cranwell was to Re-rubber and re-cover two full size snooker tables and a pool table in the Sgts and Warrent officers mess .

one of the finished tables

one had new nets and leathers fitted .
It is not every day that you get to see a 100 plane fly past of aircraft practicing for the fly past down the mall which took place today to celebrate 100 years of the RAF .
One for the Billiard fitters travel stories memoirs  .

Just spent last week working at Butlins Skegness  in the Green Baize club .
three complete re-covers , one replacement Bed , 3 sets of nets and leathers and odd nets and ball rails to replace .

This week I have two full size snooker tables to re-rubber and re-cover and a 7ft pool table at RAF Cranwell Sgts Mess .

they are in a bit of a mess having had low cost rubber bad rebound value  fitted last time , and all cloth slips nailed in by a well known local Midlands firm they used last time .
I am putting them right fitting top quality Northern Rubber and Strachan Tournament 6811 cloth 30 oz and new nets and leathers .
The pool table has rock hard cushions so I am replacing these too

You only get a good table if you use Good materials , so be aware of lower quotes and always ask what rubber and cloth they are using , and look at the goods when they fit it .
fitters who tend to use lower grade goods also do a lower grade workmanship , they have no pride or morals , so be aware , you  get what you pay for , there is no such thing as low cost quality materials and workmanship .

Northern rubber comes in packs of six with stamped date of manufacture on each rubber
this is an old photo for an example of what to look for ,  I fitted November 2017 made cushions .

the cloth will have this transfer on the underside

also two blue lines embroidered in on one edge .

Nets and leathers I use are top quality and supplied by Peradon .
all the materials I use are top quality , I cannot barter the price down on quality goods .
and firms that do undercut me do use inferior materials and bad workmanship such as nailing in cushion cloth slips ,
as proved today when I stripped down the first table in the RAF site .
And I am finding by showing the client these things I get repeat work from them .
they Know GCL billiards is a firm to trust their cue sports tables with .
No corners cut , and no inferior materials used .

Just got back from holiday to 174 emails and phone answer service full of messages on both land line and mobile .
it has taken me three days to sort it all out .
I was supposed to be working on my house this week but I have sat in the office for 3 days sorting this back log of inquiries that have come in while on holiday out .
Sorry if I have missed anyone out , if you feel that you have not been contacted due to phone answering service full ,  then please get back in touch via email system rather than the phone .
But the good news for us is we are getting very busy again , not that we have ever been slack for the last 6 years .
In fact business is booming .

but just to keep people in the loop requiring work , please try and book me 6 to 8 weeks in advance

I am busy for a reason with 42 years personal experience as a time served billiards fitter , and my ethics of quality work ,
this seems to be what people require when they are looking for a Billiards fitter to carry out work on their tables .
and word of mouth is a powerful tool too , many of my new clients have been referred by previous work that I have carried out .
at the rate work is coming in I will be ready for a another break around September for a week .

do not forget we also move the odd table for people , it is not all about working on site only .
here are just a few of the quality and type of  work that we have carried out

so please book early for work , I do work the odd Saturday if it helps , but tend to keep these week end days for local work rather than traveling .

We have a client based near Bishop Storford / Stanstead Airport .
He wishes to sell on his very nice condition Karnehm and Hillman full size snooker table at  £500
At this price it is a come and get me price attractive to buy and then employ a billiards firm like GCL billiards to dismantle and set back up .

as can be seen the Buckingham model has carved tulip legs and scrolls and buttons to the cushions with reeded design to side frame and lower cushion .
an attractive looking table that resembles old billiard table yet has the benefit of playing as a modern table , this table was manufactured from early 1980s onward’s .

with the table is all the accessories and the shade lighting scoreboard etc.

The cloth from the photo’s looks in very good order and could be re stretched back on ,
the baulk line and D could do with erasing with acetone to remark out in order for it to be a professional job .
you see a few of these come up , but this one is private owned and looks in very good order , unlike some that have had a hard life in a  snooker or working mens club .
of course there will be some marks and scratches associated with belt buckle marks that you always get on a polished cushion capping when you lean over for a shot .
but from the photo’s it looks minimal if any at all .
buyer to pay for dismantle and removal and delivery and set up as an Extra to cost of the table
if you would like a quote please contact Geoff at GCL billiards .
all inquiries for this table to GCL billiards and we will pass on any interested parties to the seller .
this table will not be up for sale long , in this condition and with the Karnehm and Hillman excellent build quality this should sell quick .
We have moved on a few of these K&H table’s in the past here are just few

a 10ft square leg version

another sold on our site

another 10ft version

another full size

and yet another 10ft tulip leg Buckingham
below are example of how e go about loading and delivering full size snooker tables .

as you can see we are professionals at removing and transporting full size snooker tables .
We offer a bubble wrapping service at extra cost if going into long term storage .

or we just blanket wrap on normal dismantle and deliveries

lifting heavy slates is no DIY job , get experienced fitters in .

filling slate joints

checking level using very accurate engineers spirit level .

to finished table , ready for play .

Now taking orders for July , June is fully booked out ….with Butlins Skegness work at end of June booked in .
My Daughters at Home looking after the dog’s but , She will not be answering any emails or telephone inquiries while we are away .
if you wish to make contact with GCL Billiards then June the 18th week is when I am back but still off the third week working at Home .
No inquiries will be answered in the time we are off on our annual holidays .

We will be right on the sea front at Puerto Del Carmen Harbour .
please try and not to phone while we are away , as always my phone be will be switched off for two weeks from June 2nd to 18th and not even taken away with me .
I am switching off from work , I did this last year and it was so refreshing not to have to worry about work and trying to fit people in for table work when on holiday .
please respect my wishes to be left alone and not to have to come back to emails and answer phone full ,
best leave it until June 18th to try and make contact with me .
I have a few job’s booked in for the start of July first week 2nd to 6th is booked out in Lincolnshire , so is the 9th of july in Ashbourne , 10th and 11th is free but 13th and 19th is booked out to Beeston  ,
16th 17th 18th and 20th free , 25th and 27th 30th and 31st all free in July as we speak .
Then we are into August , as I often say to clients please try and book GCL billiards for table work  ,  6 to 8 weeks in advance at any one time .
there are not many of us Qualified and time served Billiard table fitters still left working , most have given up and retired , I am worth waiting for if you want quality work done to your cue sports tables .

Many of my clients do recommend me , Cue Ball Club in Derby is one

Stapleford cue club another

Ivanhoe club Ashby de la zouch is another

Hunters Bar at Grantham another .

and even some Private owners with just one table , I am not all about bulk club work , I like to have a good mix of club and private dwellings to work at .

and smaller pool table work too .
As I said I am worth waiting for , GCL billiards has got more busy as each year passes , we are very popular and recommendations do travel through social media ,
Especially face book , my name gets passed around when opposing league teams play at an away venue and they ask who does your table recovering ?

Please help me to take two weeks Holidays and not come back to a phone and email system full of inquiries .
As you can see we are fully booked out until July , so there is no point in asking for a day before that time period .

Regards

Geoff Large
GCL billiards

We have a Fire station who would like to sell their 10 foot sized billiard table for a £200 donation
The table is upstairs but I have been assured once sold they will get the table downstairs and placed under the stairs for collection ,
they may even Help you load it on your van or flat bed lorry  for you , IF they are about and not out on a duty call  , and you make another £50 contribution to the Donation ?

Not many 10fts about for sale at the moment ,  but this one requires work so a donation of £200 to the fire station ,  is all that is required to secure it .
No scoreboard with the table , just what you see in the photo .
the light can go and the rest of the accesories such as balls and rests .

I am not sure if it is a Orme and sons as this plate refers to the O.S . MARK 2 low cushions
it could just be a plate added to the table when this modification took place , I will ask for another photo of the other end cushion just in case there is a manufacturers plate at that end .
I would date the table at around 1885 to 1895 because of the top plates of the pockets .
this table will make a nice table just waxed up with it’s natural aged woodwork , a re-cover and maybe new nets and leathers
the table is in the Manchester area ,

for full details contact Geoff at GCL billiards ,  c.large@btinternet.com

****but I will be away for two weeks from June the 1st to June the 18th .
and I will be away from phones and a PC in that time period .

With work already in , and our two weeks Holidays in June and a weeks work on the house long overdue , we are booked out for work during the months of May and June .and that’s  FULLY BOOKED OUT !
There is no possibility of cancellations , so please look into July at the earliest for work on your cue sport tables .