Category Archives: News

This full sized Billiard table is based in the North East  of England
it has a very interesting plaque and an accompanying autographed by C Dawson photo .
the table was manufactured by Birmingham based Padmore’s .  ( now part of the Thurston / Clare group of companies based in Liverpool )
on one end there is  a plaque commemorating a Billiards 9000 up exhibition match between H W STEVENSON and C DAWSON in NOVEMBER 1906

you may also note Henry Murton billiard table maker plaque , on frame , this was put on when the cushions where remodeled a few years later .

A signed C Dawson autograph is also included along with this photo of the two players .

The faded Henry Murton of Newcastle , cushion modifying plaque on the other end of the table .

A nice round reeded globe leg , with lion head knee panels and a lion head in the centre of each slide in cushion panel .

Above shot of cloth condition , looks like it had a recent recover not long ago .
but maybe nets and leathers could do with upgrading .
maybe returning to billiard bag nets if someone wanted to make it how it was in the day of 1906 .

lions head in each knee panel
The table looks like it could do with a total re polishing to bring back up to a good playing order , maybe new rubber and re cloth and bag nets .
this table would make a great table for someone who is into historic Billiard / snooker  collectibles .
it is one of those tables that should not be scrapped or recycled because of the historic interest .
With many tables going down that route of re-cycling , it would be a crime to send this the same way , so our clients are willing to listen to very reasonable offers for the table ,
the table belongs to a Parish council , so as you would expect the money would come in handy for them to use around the borough for good causes .
please contact Geoff at GCL billiards , he will put you in touch with the person in charge of selling the table , and guide you to a price to offer that is fair to both parties .
this is a good opportunity to pick up a table with good history provenance at a low reasonable price.
I will be asking Peter Ainsworth a local Billiards Historian here in the UK , for his views and if he can shed any light on the history of the billiards match played on this table  , I am sure he will have it logged down somewhere .
things like
DAY  date and Time , prize money and attendance figures , maybe it was UK tour ,of these billiard players , also history of the players themselves , and who reffed the match ?

We have expanded our pool table rental portfolio by fitting two more tables into a club in Nuneaton later this week .
allthough you could buy a table in almost any colour combination , our rental tables are installed as Black pearl cabinets  mechanical coin operations bodies and side doors  .
Factory cloth is changed at 6 months and we then re-cover in strachan 6811 28 oz all wool napped cloth .
If you would like to take out one of our excellent rental packages for a Brand New supreme winner 7×4 , speak to Geoff Large at GCL Billiards
our two recover a year package is the best value around and people often say how do you do it for the price !
Let us explain why renting is just as good as owning and maybe even better with tax concessions and recover options and upgrades to new tables after 5 to 6 years .
you never need to worry that your table is looking rough or the worst table in the neighborhoods pubs or clubs  , players will be clambering to play on your new GCL Billiards rental table .
because they know it is going to be re-covered every 6 months and new balls and cue’s every year , plus an extra set of Premier Aramith  match balls at install .

We will be supplying , Two Brand new  Supreme winner coin op tables converted to Free Play for this client who prefers to charge by the light usage / Hour charge .

We only do our rental tables in coin op with cue ball return to baulk line end .
we can take out the coin operation and just have free play , but you still get the cue ball return to baulk end
this is something you do not get with normal none coin op winners , all the balls come out at rack end .
and the cue ball does not separate .
We do prefer to keep our Rental pool table’s on Mechanical straight six coin operation , but for clubs wishing to charge by the hour we can convert them so that the balls bypass the coin operation ,
but still retains the  1/7/8ths cue ball   to 2 inch colour balls  separation slot .

our Winner tables are the latest design with die cast chrome metal corners rather than the older models with chrome plastic corners
you can tell the difference when you see them . also the trim line between cushion and upper surround is an alloy thin one and not the raised plastic type that no one likes .
the cabinet finish is Black pearl satin , rather than the older black ash wood grain which goes shiny and reflects the above lighting into your eyes .

Chrome metal Die cast corner plates with raised lettering

This is a club in Coventry that has three of our tables out on rental contract with two re-covers a year allowance .
winter and summer league starts off with a fresh re-cloth .

our tables have the superior Strachan 6811 cloth fitted, this is not thick slow club cloth but a 28oz version of tournament cloth especially made for pool table use .
all 100% pure new wool and no man made fibers in sight , these cloths are very good for cue ball control , there are faster cloths ,
but when it comes to all round play this cloth is the best to use .

Green badged tables are the latest tables with Black pearl finish cabinets
The choice of professional players , and best colour for rental tables .

 

WE DO NOT ANSWER TEXTS MESSAGES BECAUSE IT TAKES TOO MUCH VALUABLE TIME !

Please phone us during working week hours 9 to 5  if you have a inquiry or wish for a quote  .

if no one answers leave a voice message Please .

as you can see above texts can go back and forth all day long .

We get quotes like

How much to level a table ? no post code or what type of table just how much .
or how much to dismantle a full size table transport and erect it ?  again no post codes or if the table is on ground or upper floor at each end .

after going back and forth with texts it wastes so much of my working time and also my leisure time .
when a simple one on one talking over the phone can be so much quicker and less time wasting .
if I am unable to answer the phone , it maybe due to having my hands full or I am working on a table and time of day or client prevents me from answering a phone call at that moment .
Also I think it is rude of me to run an office answering service when I am supposed to be working for a client after all they are paying me to work on their table not answer phones , so it maybe later in the day when I answer a message left on my phone .
but only phone messages not TEXTS .
I am sorry if this seems like I am ignoring people , but texts is not one of my good things , actually it is one of my pet hates .
I can talk faster than texting back and forth and get my point or explanation over much better and quicker .

ITS GOOD TO TALK

Just before Christmas I upgraded the van to a Brand new one having had the old one four and a half years and at 60.000 mile thought why not .
less worry , less maintenance , less chance of something going wrong , and keep the company image fresh .
So we have had the new van sign wrapped with a reversal of design from our previous van so look out for us on the road.
snooker theme on side , pool theme on rear .

Out side the Plough Inn at Wysall today , nice pub and very nice meals , but was visiting the pool table for a re-cover , rather than having a pint .

As you can see i have had a reversal of design , what used to be on the back door is now on the side and the side is now on the back door from our previous van .
~also positioning of phone numbers a bit different and larger on the side of the van .

I will miss this old van , it never missed a beat in four and  a half years and 60.000 miles .
I kept the miles lower because I also use my car on some jobs .
just got to put the number plate GCL 13 back on the new van and we are done .
*** UPDATE … 21st January 2018 my old van above sold off forecourt to a lady who is going to convert it to a camper .
These vans if bought  on low miles and looked after like mine was ,  are ideal camper van conversions , because you can already stand up in them without any roof conversion
and they have factory roof panel cut outs already in the roof for putting skylights in for such conversions .
Medium wheel base has plenty of room for beds and seating plus wardrobe and cooker .
Ideal for up to 4 berth .

 

NOW GONE >>>>> NOT AVAILABLE ANY MORE .

The table was only on for one day before it was claimed for free , and believe it or not to a village that is only 3.5 mile away from my clients village .
The person who is having it has agreed to have GCL billiards to remove and deliver the table and erect it , then at a later date go for a re-rubber and re-cover .

 

We do get these offers of free tables now and again and they go pretty quick especially in this condition of woodwork .
keep a look out for more bargains direct from seller to buyer , or in this case a FREE table to a person looking for a table .
this has enabled the person to spend what they would have buying a table , to renovating the playing surface and replacing the rubber .
the cost of removing a table and delivering it is always going to be there though , if you buy or get a table at low money of FREE . That part of the work is not FREE I’m afraid .

 

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ORIGINAL ADVERT

 

We have a client who wishes to give away a free full size snooker table , this table is at the top of his Garden in a separate Games Room
boards will have to be laid on the grass to wheel the slates to a parked van .
We put this table in a couple of years back , and due to our clients busy schedule as a TV sports presenter Journalist he just does not have the time to do the table justice .
as he is  out and about from Home reporting for a well known TV channel .
We got this table for our client as a free table around two years ago  and he paid us to collect it and deliver and install it .
from memory the cloth on the bed looks OK , but I think the cushion rebound was not good or at least could be better , so could do with a re-rubber
but you could have that done at a later date , the table is good to go as it is and be played on .

the polish does have a few marks on it , but generally this is what we call good condition
the table is circa 1930s to 1960s .
So will have a few age related marks , it came from a private house previously , so I do not think it has had any commercial use .
It will come with the range of accessories that is in the photo ‘s
Long rest and cue , end rests . rest hooks , scoreboard . cue racks and cues .

I think anyone would be happy to have a free table in this condition .
just pay for removal and delivery and set up , and it’s your’s .

As you can see the cloth is all right for now , and due to cost of removal and delivery ,
I suggest anyone go for it as it is , then at a later date consider a re-rubber , re-cover .
Geoff at GCL billiards can guide you on a price for this .

you may also wish to have new nets and leathers fitted , but some like the old antique look of old leather .
provided they are not worn through where the ball hits the plate then they will be OK as they are .

there is even a fitted table cover dust sheet .

A good range of cues and two wall racks .

and a Scoreboard .

ALL INQUIRES to Geoff & Carol at GCL billiards by email.
I will be happy to pass on any genuine interest in this table to our client .

contact
c.large@btinternet.com

Been over to Stapleford cue club on Derby Road Stapleford Nottinghamshire today .
About 3 mile from my own house .
and one of the best little Snooker clubs around to play snooker or pool in .
6 full size snooker tables and 4 Supreme pool tables , all very well cared for , Run by a Cue sport Player for cue sport players.

My work was to re-cover a full size snooker table , a Riley club table circa 1930’s / 1950s with modern Riley Aristocrat standard cushions .
A table that we sourced a couple of years ago from a Long Eaton club closing down as seen below .

And replaced a BCE copy table that was not really up to The owner Jed’s standard so did not take much persuading to have this table put in .
it is an upgrade table with good welsh slate  and plays very nice with the modern cushions and pockets .

New Strachan 6811 tournament 30 oz and new nets and leathers fitted .
the lads at this cue club get pampered as this table was only re-covered around 18 months ago , just shows with regular  recovering and good maintenance this table gets plenty of use .
Jed is not afraid to bring a table in for a re-cover where other clubs may try and get another 6 months wear out of a cloth , when its ready it is ready says Jed .
it is one of the best tables to play on in Nottingham .
as near to match play as you can get for a standard none steel cushioned table .
not that Stapleford cue club lacks steel cushioned tables , they also have two full size match play steel cushioned tables .
and three more full size Riley standard tables .

I have just visited Ian near Wolverhampton .
Ian contacted me to set up his 9ft American pool table in his very well built extension .
He had custom lighting and all top quality materials for the re-rubber and cover .
plus a very expensive lighting unit .

I arrived and with Ian’s help quickly assembled the under frame work and legs plus placed the slate on the frame and the rough leveling .
I then started to strip down the cushions for the re-rubber , and clean the blocks up of old glue ready for the new rubber to be attached .

this is where I first encountered my first problem , the new rubber which was match play standard did not align up with the half round molding on the block work .

Some fitters would have walked away at this stage , or refitted the old rubber back on !

A 10 minute think and the solution was to plane the half round molding off the block work and make some half round molding and fasten on in the correct place to suit the new rubber profile .
so a quick trip to B&Q we found some dowel we could plane down to use as the half round molding .
This set us back a couple of hours but you take the rough with the smooth as they say in this line of work .
once I had re-rubbered the cushions , formed the angles and covered the cushions , we started back on the slate bed for the fine leveling and filling of slate joints to make smooth .

cloth is now laid on ready to staple and stretch down

Stretching to the cloths full amount of possible stretch  is a must for a tight cloth , here the center pocket falls are formed .
you cannot have any wrinkles around the fall areas .
Stretching these american cloths onto such large pocket falls  is much harder than stretching wool napped cloth on a full size snooker table .
Quality cloth is a must and I recommend either this Simonis 860 or Strachan Super Pro speed or even Hainsworth Elite Pro speed cloth  , these three cloths seem to form better around the falls .
one cloth you should be very wary of is the Euro pool brand , it is like stretching cardboard on , it will put blisters on your knuckles stretching that thick euro pool cloth on .
for around £20 to £40 saving from the quality brands , it just is not worth fitting these thick cardboard type cloths on , and I refuse all jobs that would have me fit it .
You often see this cloth in Bowling alley pool tables , it marks easy and looks a mess within weeks , you may have noticed the white burn ball skid acceleration marks appearing on them .
A wool mix cloth is far better than a high percentage of  man made fiber one .

the cloth fully stretched out and stapled down , and skirts in place  to cover pocket staples
you may notice some damp patches around the pocket areas ,this is spray on starch , these will dry out  , a trick that most American pool table  fitters now use , I also spray the entire bed cloth with starch and even iron the bed cloth after fitting , this to prevent slackening off of cloth over the future months , a common problem with speed cloths .

The cloth of choice was Iwan Simonis 860 .

Aligning the cushions up using the 6ft straight edge , it is important especially for shots to go down the side cushions to not be deflected out by none alignment of side cushions , these must be kept parallel to each other with NO V shape in or out and both nose’s of rubber in alignment .

the finished table .

a few practice shots to make sure our client Ian is happy with the table .

Ian plays a 8 ball game is the shape of a diamond racking

nice new shiny Aramith pro balls

this is a very expensive triangle that Ian had shipped over from the USA

Ian also arranged to have a very expensive light fitting unit above the table shipped over from the USA .
I must say this is the first time I have ever seen one of these , it looks very nice .

the table Ian had installed is a Longoni manufacture and is a copy of the USA made Brunswick Gold Crown as seen at Butlins in Skegness in above photo .
I will say this , the Longoni is a better built table using better materials than the Brunswick that I have worked on .
but to be fair these Butlins tables have taken some hammer over the many years they have been constantly played on .

NOW SOLD NOW SOLD NOW SOLD as from 30th December 2017

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original advert

We have a client who wishes to sell their 7ft Riley Barley twist leg dining table
it has  serial number starting with A7 **** A is for Acrington and the first number 7 is the size for the table = 7ft
please study the photo’s the table is for sale at offers and can be bought with the chairs if you also wish to buy them or without .
a fantastic piece of furniture , priced sensibly as owner does know it will take some cost to relocate it . but open to offers . ?

Rare Oak Barley twist design and an original Riley made table which they made from the 1900s to 1960s .

the chairs are also up for sale and could be included if the price offered was agreeable .
the Chairs do have some matching Barley twist design to the upper back sides and front legs .
with what looks like a rattan seat and back area .
A good match to the table .
the solid oak table tops in position and in its dining low height

hard to say what condition the cloth is from photo , but you could have a re-cover if you would like the normal Green that was original to this table when first made .
also bounce of cushions would also have to be accessed .
and make sure with the seller that all the dual height lifters are with the table and work .

there is also a scoreboard that is included , and a round cue rack and cues which could also be included if the offer price was to our clients approval .
This is a rare opportunity to acquire one of these Barley twist oak tables , E J Riley made the turned leg and square legged version in their thousands then came the cabriolet legged tables also in their thousands , with pad or claw feet ,  and then these Barely twist tables .
So you are not going to find many of these for sale . I have worked on a few Barley twist legged versions and this one looks in very good order polish wise .
Contact Geoff by email for more information .
All genuine inquiries I will forward your email on to the Private  seller .
I just have to make sure the table is on the ground floor for collection .
If you wished for a quote to move the table from GCL billiards then please also email at the address below .
We are very busy on our run up to Christmas but if we are in the area of this table and can collect we will be very pleased to give you a quote .we have the proper van and tools and equipment to move the table .
the table is located close to Stanstead Airport junction ,  just off the M11 Motorway .

inquiries please Email

c.large@btinternet.com