Category Archives: News

I was called in by a Mrs Patel in Leicester to finish the install of a 10 ft Burroughs and watts 4 piece slate bed snooker table circa 1880’s .
Mr’s Patel’s husband had installed the table and put the frame up roughly level and repaired a Broken slate .
I went over a few weeks ago just to see what I was up against , the cushions required a re-rubber , and the table re-cloth in 6811 tournament cloth .
so I took the Cushion’s into the workshop to re-rubber and re-cover them to save time on the return visit.
Also they had two broken Brass top plate pockets , I never throw any old billiard table parts away and found two to perfectly replace the broken ones in my store room shed.
If I ever scrap a table I always keep the parts that I think may be useful in keeping other tables in use .

the next photo’s show how bad the broken slate was , Mr Patel had made a very good job of repairing the slate and filling in the slate joints , although I did point out that some extra under slate support would help to keep the broken piece in place especially if someone was to put their knee on it to take a shot further down the table, which he carried out and made a good job of putting a board to support the whole broken piece under the slate .
I checked the level and found it to be out by quite some distance , this shows that using a builders level can only get it to rough level , you really need to use an engineers spirit level to get it bang on .

the games room has to be cleared out now the table is installed the room was being used as storage until they bought the table  , the room was built for Mrs Patel’s son , who is very keen to start playing snooker in his own snooker room at the bottom of the Garden .
the Burroughs and watts turned and Fluted leg table was built around 1880  maybe a little before that as it has a 4 piece slate bed rather than a 3 or 5 piece , having 4 sections the joint on the middle pockets are suspect to chipping as a ball bounces back off the middle pocket plate , so all the billiard firms stated to use 3 and 5 section slates so that no joint was ever going to be in the middle pocket . you may note that the table has the old top plate billiard pockets , these where discontinued around 1895 in favour of concealed pocket plate fixings into the end of each cushion rather than the bolt down finger of brass showing in the upper wood capping .
I am sure The Patel’s will find many hours of enjoyment in their own Billiard room at the bottom of their Garden , and keep their son occupied for many an hour .

Today I have been on a job near Ashbourne to repair a torn cloth and service of two full size snooker tables , you can see from the impact that this was a hard strike down of cue into cloth . you can see where a round sharp ferrule has cut the cloth and the impact of the tip chalk is seen on the slate ,  someone trying a trick shot or screw back of cue ball ?
Resulting in a L shape rip .

Please note you really must check tip and ferrule condition to avoid the cloth being damaged like this .
The following photo’s show how the repair was done , taking the cloth off the table , cleaning up the jagged edge of the hole and then sewing from under the cloth , wax the thread for strength, then re stretch back down and lightly tap with a hammer until flat  . put cushions back on re-mark out and re spot and iron .

We are giving away free a set of import competition Pool Balls with each recover of a 6ft or 7ft Pool Table during December 2013 .
please quote F/DEC2013  when ordering the recover and we will make sure the balls are on the van for your recover .
We will also include 12 piece box of chalk free .

these balls have a retail value of £19.99p on ebay . see link http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/REDS-YELLOWS-2-POOL-BALLS-STANDARD-SIZE-/380046522590?pt=UK_SportingGoods_SnookerPool_RL&hash=item587c89b8de#ht_498wt_1161

To Qualify for a free set of pool balls please phone Geoff on 07753466064  or email c.large@btinternet.com with your recover order for your pool table , we will be using  Strachan 777 cloth grade in Green  for this offer of free pool balls .

We are used by a three  removal firms in the Nottingham and Derby areas to work on any large cue sports tables that they cannot and do not have the experience to work on dismantling and erecting .
Today we where called in as their client has had serious damp issues and the whole room is to be re tanked to stop dampness coming through the plastered walls.
The table was a rare 8ft American pool table , Titan being the brand name , But we did spot some issue’s with the table , the slate looks like it is not fitted correctly to the table and the corner pocket falls are not cut correct , three cushion bolts missing and one pocket Allen bolt missing , also loose cloth on one cushion , and the adjustable feet are not working correct .

The table during strip down

We where being asked to refit the cloth on this table when it goes back up in December , but there is no spare cloth as the previous fitter has not left much cloth on to grab hold to stetch it back on , we have suggested a new cloth on the set up .

Some very odd pocket fall shapes , I have never seen one cut like this before , I think Ray Charles did it?
Note also the holes have been slotted to the right of this pocket to try and match up with the bolt holes in the underside of the cushion , which they have failed again , the 3 bolts that where missing out of the cushion was missed out because they did not align up . some work has to be carried out on this table to make sure all the bolts align up , one cushion has just one bolt holding it on when it should have had three ?

the legs where also showing signs of damage , at each end of the leg the Formica is supposed to bend around when glued on , this leg shows it is under so much pressure that it is trying to bend back off the wood and has cracks appearing in it . the feet where just jammed in and had no adjustment to them at all , how they managed to level it is a mystery .
This is just the sort of work that SPEED fitters do , they are in so much of a hurry to get as much done in one day they cut corners , looking at the corners of this table they did not hang around !

This photo of the cushion shows loose cloth coming out of the cloth retaining slip , another speed fitter not making sure the retaining slips are tight and holding the cloth in secure.

The 8ft titan American pool table fully dismantled and ready to be wrapped by Removal firm for loading , I have advised for the table to be recovered , I have priced it up and have been told they may have someone else who can do it at a lower price ? , my rates are the going rate for this type of table using quality cloth and the work will be done correct and some of these faults sorted out during assembling it back up.
although I got the impression they where comparing my prices up against a normal uk7ft pool table with the sort of prices they where saying to me. this is an American pool table with three section slate bed not a one piece lift out and glue cloth on like a uk pool table .
I have posted these photo’s as a warning that not all firms are craftsmen when it came to quality , you can clearly see all,the faults with the table from these photographs .
As for prices on recovering , you get what you pay for as they say.

Again another satisfied client who has used GCL Billiards in the past has used us again .
We think that this is one of the best Cue sports club’s around , with it’s main Ground floor pool room and close by parking , add to this it’s bright clean surroundings and friendly staff
Good Bar snacks , and great atmosphere .
I have been going to this club for over 14 years maintaining the tables , and it shows the Owners trust me to carry on maintaining the tables to a professional standard.
they also have 6 full size snooker tables upstairs with separate bar .

The 7 pool tables I re-covered this time where the 7ft Winner supreme tables seen here in the background.
they have two types of cloth fitted to these tables , top quality Strachan 6811 pool cloth on four tables  and Euro speed pool on three tables.
This gives a good mix to the type that customers like to played on , speed cloth for speed of ball , and napped cloth for control of cue ball .
Some of these tables have been in use for around 10 years and still going strong , they only show signs of wear on the corner pocket plates where the chrome is just starting to peel off , but this can be sorted with a simple renew of pocket plate trim.
Two of the tables are the latest metal chrome corner type that Supreme are now producing .
Here are some photo’s showing the difference in the two types of old and new .
First photo showing the worn chrome off the plastic pocket trim . the second photo showing the new all metal die-cast corner trim which should hold the chrome much better .

Above You can see that these trims have had some traffic rubbing against them to remove the chrome plating
it just shows they are played often and that the club have serious pool players .

We have advised to renew some of the corner trim plates  the next time we re-cover to these later type die-cast chrome trims.
and one set of cushions to be re-placed next time too.
Cabinet wise the tables are in good condition so why change the whole table when it is just the corner trims that are worn .

We have just completed a recover on a table that I used to work on many years ago.  We quoted to do the work and found out that the previous fitter had overcharged by around £250 when they recovered this table 3 years ago.

The slips were all nailed in.  We replaced all the cloth retaining slips on these good condition Riley cushions.  Another few recovers by the last fitter who keeps nailing in slips would have resulted in the rubber wood blocks coming away from the cushion.  We have now done a much better job and next time the slips will come out easy as intended on strip down rather than having to dig the nails out.  The cloth was also showing no brand markings when it came off, which was alarming as the customer was informed they were getting top quality cloth.

We supplied and showed our clients the triple markings of serial number / cloth transfer / and embroidered edge all with the Strachan wording in and 6811 tournament 30 oz clear to see on the cloth.

A clear warning for everyone considering a recover, always check the materials and also get work references for the fitter who is doing the work.  GCL billiards can put you in touch with many happy customers for our reference and we are also recommended by the NBSA (Nottinghamshire Billiards & Snooker Association), your guarantee that you are getting quality workmanship and quality cloth.

If you want quality work using quality materials and you want to pay a fair competitive price then GCL Billiards is the place to turn to.

Phone Geoff on 07753 466064 or email c.large@btinternet.com for a quote or to discuss any other work you may require on your cue sports table.

We now have a stock of Supreme Winner and Prince Tables for  Table hire locally to us in Nottingham & Derby.

The supreme winners we have are the latest metal chrome corner in Black pearl satin  rather than the outgoing plastic chrome corner plate .
We also have one in mahogany wood grain finish.
and a mahogany wood grain Supreme Prince .

supplied with a league set of balls as well as a normal play set per year  , and recovering options for yearly or 6 monthly . 4 cue’s . triangle delivered and set up ready for play from just £15 per week * ( depending on recover option)
we are 100% cue sports maintenance fitters , and this ensures the best care and attention for your pool table while it is operated by GCL Billiards , unlike most rental/hire  firms we are not sidetracked by Fruit machine or juke boxes . we give 100% attention to your pool table making sure it is properly maintained , hiring on contract from GCL Billiards ensures your pool team have the best tables to play on and in many cases the best tables in the league .
We use Strachan 6811 cloth on all of our rental/hire tables , none of your thick woolly type cloth that is too slow to play on , we ensure your table is level and make regular checks to see that the table is playing 100% ok.
we can only do this by installing local to us , having tables miles away is not the way GCL Billiards work , we like to have a small circuit of tables that we can get to easy and quickly .
If your table is not being maintained to an acceptable standard then get the professional Pool table hire firm in GCL Billiards is the best locally and we stand by our reputation and feedback , we have tables in Pub’s club’s Work canteens , Hotels , in fact anywhere you want within reason.
The Supreme Tables are the market leaders and the preferred choice of professional pool players . want a quote for a hire table on your premises ? then get in touch with Geoff 07753466064 or email c.large@btinternet.com

These two Supreme Winner in black pearl are ready for rental , please call GCL Billiards for a quote NOW !

We have the superb top of the range Supreme Prince for hire too just in case you require the more Traditional looking turned leg type of table with wood grain finish , these tables have exactly the same type and size of slate and cushions that the winner has so play the same for trueness and bounce , the only difference is the cabinet  and leg shape and finish .

All tables come with mechanical coin mech’s and we have a set weekly hire not a 50/50 , this way you have the keys and you empty the takings , the cash box can be padlocked in and we also fit warning led alarm/ lights  to our tables both to cabinet and the cash box if required.
SUPREME tables that GCL billiards use are the same type as used in most top end clubs like this set up local to us and the same spec of cloth Strachan west of England 6811 grade cloth .

We have experienced some rather low prices for re-covering snooker tables , when we quote our price this is for top quality cloth , we do not use seconds or sub standard cloth .
and we send back any major faulty cloth to our supplier if found which is not often as it is quality control checked  .
we have been undercut by as much as £50 on a full size snooker table , now we know how it is done.
They have been using lower priced Sub standard cloth , there is nothing wrong with using this cloth if the Client is informed they are saving the £50 by using this cloth .
But sometimes they are not informed , they think they are getting the same cloth as I am quoting for .
this is the stamp of a good quality one . you can see the blue line in reverse as you are looking at the underside of the cloth . the main stamp transfer with 30 oz Gold tournament , and just under this the roll number line in black which also states 6811 tournament .

The next photo is of 6811 pool cloth , so watch out for no edging blue lines and just this stamp on snooker tables this cloth should only be used on Pool and smaller snooker tables
You may also note that there is no 30 oz after the 6811 , no gold gold tournament wording .
Sometimes you can get this pool table 6811 stamp used on full width cloth , I have come across this , it does not state pool in any wording , so people can get away with passing it off as Tournament 6811 although they are very carefull and never mention the words Tournament , only 6811 quality cloth , this is what fools you .
well it is a mine field out there as 6811 is a grade and term used on many grades of cloth within the Strachan branding , So if you want to be sure you are getting the best cloth fitted use a reputable firm , there are a few of us out there . and GCL Billiards is one of them .

Unless the cloth has the two Blue lines for top quality 6811 tournament cloth with gold embroidery writing along the entire edge  , a transfer stating Gold Tournament , and a roll number which also has the words 6811 Tournament , then it is not top quality .Also look out for the words sub standard written through the main transfer .
I am now for snooker hall use only on normal play tables not the match tables going to stock by special order only  the lower priced cloth , just to be on a level playing field when quoting for such work , I will offer two prices one for Top Quality and one for sub standard when it is available .
It is not available all the time , but when it is I will order it for those who wish to go down this route .

You can also get CLUB 6811 which has red lines in place of blue and the words Club in place of tournament . so for top quality it is Blue lines , for club quality it is Red Lines , there is only around £17 price difference in these cloths so in my opinion fit the blue lines Tournament .
Please take no notice of the staples in the cloth below , this cloth in the photo I am taking off and was fitted by a cowboy fitter , I just use the photo as an example to show what to look for , in this case showing club 6811 cloth , all bed cloths should be fitted with 5/8th tacks not staples .

Also look at the following link for some Chinese copy cloth , study the gold woven stitch spelling and type of stitching on the red and blue lines
http://www.wsptextiles.com/copy_cloth_examples

and this link  for the Genuine strachan cloth branding example .
http://www.wsptextiles.com/genuine-strachan-cloth

Copies are out there and customers should take note that some fitters do have access to this cloth , GCL Billiards would never touch Chinese made cloth or worse still try to pass it off as Genuine Strachan cloth .
so there you have it lower prices on the same like for like quote , you have to ask questions and demand to see the cloth stamp plus woven edge serial number etc , and inspect it closely , take a photo of the stamp and the woven edge  if you are not sure and send this off to sales@wsptextiles.com , I am sure they would be very interested in finding the source of this copy imported cloth .