Back Friday evening , got a few big job’s coming relocating snooker tables and re-clothing
February is full no days left , also most of March full and I have got to fit two funerals in , so some disruption to dates is also going to happen .
sorry for that I have no control of funerals dates .
and will attend as close family and a close friend back in the day of my youth .
you can rearrange a lost days work , but not a missed funeral .
Now and again my back will give way and last Saturday this did happen , this may be due to a bad lift or over working the lifting part of my job .
this time it was small 7ft pool table not a large full size that did the damage , and yes i was wearing a spinal back support with adjustable straps which supports my back
So to some job’s that require lifting heavy slates i am going to turn some work bookings away
I have a few days rest or work that involves no lifting so I can rest my back while still working .
Hopefully the two big jobs of full size tables relocations coming up in the next two weeks are not affected .
No exaggeration here this is probably one of the best ever carved tables to be sold in the UK
not often seen on the market as a private sale, but more often in expensive London Auction houses or high end Billiards retail outlets. It would not look out of place in Harrods.
This very ornate Billiards table by the well known Manchester billiards firm of Orme & Sons is available for sale through GCL Billiards.
The table is a private sale and is located near to Lichfield and Rugeley in the West Midlands for viewing to serious buyers only.
The table is for sale at £25,000 which for such a bespoke item direct from the owners, no middle men fees, no auction premiums, it is a very reasonable price for such a fine billiard table, which you would rarely see come onto the market especially in this renovated condition. In a top end billiard firms ownership it would be well into the £40k mark.
Ok you will have to arrange dismantle and relocation and set back up. GCL Billiards will quote you for this work if you provide a full address including post code and if it is on the ground floor at the buyer’s address with no stairs.
This table is being sold from the ground floor also, so no problems for collection.
WARNING this table move will require a full large size removals lorry. A normal 35cwt van would not be large enough or offer good protection to the dismantled table and would be overweight.
Our advice is that a time served billiards fitter must be part of that removals package on dismantle and install, which would be an extra costing on top of any purchase price.
Our small 35cwt van is ok for a standard leg low end table, but not this highly carved high end table it would be too small and overweight.
But I will accompany any removals firm. I work closely with a local Nottingham removals firm that would have a large enough lorry to carry this table and in well wrapped conditions.
Please study the photos of the table. I am about to find out what is currently being sold with the table accessories wise, as the previous owner also has a lot of billiard room photos and paintings and collectables that are being sold separately.
Please note all those wall decorations are not with the table, neither is the light fitting. I will find out about the scoreboard, cues, balls and other accessories, which I think should be included.
Orme and Sons Beaufort model table, top of the range in 1905, only a few were made and some had different carvings to the legs. So carving wise there may be a one-off design to each table.
Orme & Sons catalogue advert for the Beaufort table no 682 design (circa 1909)
The cloth is as new.
Nice light to medium oak polish to cushions.
Just look at the ornateness and solidness of those legs and panelling friezes. Fine Edwardian craftsmanship at its very best.
Another view of the whole table so you can take in what fine craftmanship went into manufacturing it.
A fine piece of furniture and talking point to any country home or large town house.
I do not know who purchased the table from new, but whoever it was, they wanted to make a statement when they commissioned this table to be made.
More light to show the carvings.
Note the bag nets, this table was manufactured when billiards was the no. 1 game.
It would be a shame if someone had fitted ball rails and ball hole nets on this table.
Original design new nets and dark stained leathers complete the original look of the table.
I also like the way they have stained the carving areas to show that part off.
Again they wanted you to notice the workmanship of the carvings.
You want a closer look at that leg carving?
Pocket opening showing no track lines and therefore the cloth is as new, so it will not require a new cloth unless you want to have one fitted.
Rare model life pool scoreboard also included. Balls, cues and rests confirmed.
It looks like this is the original scoreboard also made by Orme & Sons that came with the table from new in the very early 1900s. Very unusual to see that the number roll bars are operated from two knobs on the front and the green is also unusual to find.
If you would like more information on the table please contact Geoff at GCL Billiards.
Email: c.large@btinternet.com
I will pass on any genuine enquiries to the owner.
For sale direct from the owners for £1500 as it stands Buyer arranges collection .
GCL billiards do not own this table you are buying direct from the seller , no middle men or auction fees to pay .
A set price which we think is very fair .
Rare to find in barley twist leg form , many variations from straight square turned , cabriolet and ball and claw , but the barley twist one is one of the rarest to come up for sale .
Try and find another for sale , you may find the odd one but they are not falling off trees in barley twist leg form .
the table in the up position , the playing height is raised up on four brackets which also have the facility to turn screw up and down for levelling .
note the barley twist legs design , very rare to find them for sale .
this table is a 7ft and should have a serial number starting A7 stamped under each table top leaf .
A stood for Accrington where Riley had their Factory , and the 7 is the size of the table , numbers after A7 are the real serial numbers of the table .
Superb wood grain to the 5 table tops when placed on and lowered for dining height .
this is all solid Oak no veneer rubbish and has been in this family for many years passed down from Generations before .
another angle showing the 1/4 sawn oak , when you see this oak pattern you know it was selected for its grain to show upper most .
again shows the table is Solid oak and not low cost veneer , what would it cost today to have one made from Solid oak wood with those rare to find Barley twist legs .
still playable with this cloth on , but it would look better with a re-cloth and maybe new bag nets and leathers .
the woodwork you could just bri wax up , I find if you fully renovate you take all originality and makes the table look a modern replica
also it is very expensive to have one stripped stained and re-polished .
and it just just not need this in my opinion .
may require a few bolt cover leg buttons which seem to be missing in the photo s , unless the owners still have them knocking around .
A few accessories are with the table , I do not know if it has an original riley scoreboard ?
the one in the photo is not what was original to the table when new from Riley’s .
but I see these riley diner scoreboards all the time on Ebay see here
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/185250017168?hash=item2b21c2ef90:g:lWgAAOSwxB5hww~G
the original would be something like this if they have one but in Oak , they also did one a bit more squared off too .
So there you have it a rare to find Barley twist 7ft version of this well known Raise and fall Dining table design .
I would think the table was made between 1900 and 1967 , but I would say circa 1920/30s .
lovely piece of solid oak furniture that has a dual purpose and a delight and conversation piece for visitors .
I have had a few myself over the years , and have one in 6ft form with cabriolet legs in garage as we speak in mahogany but not as nice as this 7ft version , which I must get out and also advertised too .
the end slide in cushion panel you can still see the E J RILEY transfer .
it would be shame to strip it down to bare wood and make it look modern and no age to it .
just wax it to bring it up a bit and show its age small buckle marks as well .
Remember the price is for the table with accessories , this is not a delivered price and is a private sale direct from the owners
buyer arranges dismantle and collection .
if you want more information and different styles of legs that where made on this riley designed and manufactured table
showing differ Nat design quirks .
copy and past this to read.
I have been informed today when trying to order some more cloth stock in, of a shortage of staff problem due to Covid .
my main Strachan cloth supplier for snooker 6811 tournament are suffering from a large loss of employees due to covid sickness and protocol , to process and package cloth out .
this may cause some problems this month of taking orders in for say snooker table re-covering in Strachan 6811
I do have some stock as a back up but these are now spoken for .
although cloth deliveries will still filter through but not at normal speed of delivery .
Until normal staffing levels are back to normal this will effect most firms in the industry if you require Strachan manufactured cloth .
I am working close with our cloth supplier to rectify this and have placed an order by email for some more stock of cloth from them
this will take time to filter through their email system with only one or two people answering emails if at all .
this firm is the main supplier to the trade of Strachan cloth in the country and it only takes a few to be struck down to almost bring the posting out of cloth to a standstill .
I still have another source to get this cloth from another London based supplier , but prefer to order Strachan snooker cloth through my main supplier .
Pool 6811 cloth is unaffected as I get that from the other Strachan stockist .
I can also order Hainsworth cloths as an alternative too .
which is another cloth that is popular with my clients .
anyone asking for Hainsworth smart / Match or Super pro speed will be unaffected .
as I ordered some special cloth colours today for clients from Hainsworth and they are not affected .
We hope everyone has had a good break over the Christmas period .
we are back open for business and table re-cloth bookings from January 5th onwards
we have a good stock of cloth in green for both snooker and pool tables , so we are taking bookings for January and February for re-clothing work .
also a stock of rubber in both Northern English manufactured and also the most used import type for pool tables is also in stock .
please note our cloth suppliers and parts suppliers are also closed and re-open the same day so any parts or special none stock cloth grades and colours ,
will have to be ordered after that date from the 5th of January 2022 , this may cause a bit of a problem if our stockists do not have that specific colour or grade in stock from the off of re-start in the New year .
please remember that during covid times production and wool supplies have also hit problems .
it may be that you choose another grade of cloth or make , or colour as a back up if you want to get your table booked in .
common rule is there is always plenty of green cloth in stock .
but not all different colours or grades in those colour apart from Green are available .
also the supplies of replacement pool cushions may be a problem in specific sizes , especially 6ft size .
due to demand of new pool tables on back order , the suppliers may be reluctant to part with re-placement cushions stocks and keep these for new pool table orders to be completed .
So the other alternative will be a re-rubber of you existing cushions if that is the case .
this may cause a bit of problem in time if we have to pick the cushions up , re-rubber then return , and also more costly if that was the case than simply buying replacement cushions
but we can re-rubber on site , a bit messy but it can be done .
But on re-rubbering you can upgrade to UK made Northern Rubber rather than the normal Import canvas backed rubber everyone uses
even Supreme and DPT and other manufacturers use import rubber from new .
obviously Northern rubber is a premium rubber and this will incur a higher price than a simple import rubber -replacement .
and we normally look for two clients or two tables to do at the same time if using Northern rubber as one set of full size northern rubber will do two 6ft or 7ft tables .
we are now using the latest yellow dot Northern rubber for these upgrade of rubber work .
so you can see that you are getting the best manufactured up to date re-rubber . MADE IN ENGLAND in Retford Nottingham
at the Northern rubber company , now owned by Hainsworth
We are getting a lot of bookings coming in for 2022 already so best email me at
c.large@btinternet.com
to book work in which will be quicker if done that way than phone as I am hands on work during the day , I may not be able to answer a phone during that time or maybe Driving .
Please note , I always look at emails first thing on my return Home in the evenings to book work in to days that are remaining on our calendar .
but you are free to phone if you wish , but please leave a text or answerphone message , I go through these phone calls and messages after emails have been replied to . 
a common occurrence is the very old red or pink rubber that often goes rock hard , please check your cushions if you wish to have your table re-clothed
as you can see one cushion may be hard the rest soft , but we only change them in full sets we do not just mix and match cushion rubber with second hand part sets .
if one has gone hard the others are not far behind it , so it is false economy to have a part cushions replacement and any firm offering that choice are wrong to do it .
and should be avoided , if they cut corners on that part of the work what else is wrong with their standards and workmanship ?
Now and again we may have a decent FULL MATCHED SET of cushions that we let go for a lower price than new , but we do inspect them and note how good they are , but we never mix and match a set .
Hard rubber held out like a stick , no re-bound value at all , just like hitting rock
and new rubber hanging down , soft and plenty of bounce .
We have a client who wishes to sell their fully refurbished at great cost full size snooker / billiard table
at present famous sports celebrity owned ( premier division footballer )
Client confidentiality is to be observed so I cannot say who it is , without consent .
My client has inherited the table on a house sale , but prefers his American pool table which is in his old property and which we have to move into this space .
As you can see immaculate condition and re-clothed in Taupe colour cloth
some accessories like rests and the balls are with the table sale
we are not asking for a lot for this table and I have negotiated a price of £2000 as it stands for a very quick sale and pick up .
Price is accessed because we have taken into account what it may cost a new owner , on top of the £2000
it varies on price to have one collected and installed it all depends on distances , and if two days or one is involved or a very long day .
the table will be dismantled and Bubble wrapped of all polished parts , and available for collection from the Alderley edge area , near Manchester .
Be quick on this one
as you can see the polish on the table is very good as is the cloth condition
talking about the cloth I think this is a Hainsworth smart manufactured taupe coloured cloth a very bespoke colour choice and would have been a special order colour .
very rare to find and choice , so a bit exclusive to have this coloured cloth .
The cloth could be refitted so a re-cloth is not required in our opinion .
Scoreboard is included .
there is no lighting so you would have to arrange for a suitable lighting to be installed if you bought the table .
which I think is a very good price for such a fine period table in this excellent condition .
there is some previous vague history with the table that it once belonged to Alex Higgins ,
I have always stated unless you have photo proof or signed documentation never to sell a table that this is true , yet I will mention it .
my client does not make this claim , it was just something that was passed down to him via the house sale .
If you require a quote for a pick up of the table and load and deliver and Ground floor installation ,
please let Geoff at GCL Billiards know and give your full post code address for the quote .
You do not have to use GCL billiards you can arrange any billiards firm or pick the table up yourself .
table will be bubble wrapped , just back up to the storage Garage , slates are near the door standing upright like a door .
just load your own van if you wanted to keep the price down for collection , you can hire a 35cwt sprinter or long wheelbase van for as little as £100
then just pay for a more local billiards fitter close to you to set back up and re-fit the cloth .
What ever route you go by for collection , we fully recommend professional billiards firm or fitter assembles the table for you .
Bad fitting of any cue sports table will be a big disappointment to any player .
All inquiries to Geoff at GCL Billiards for the table sale
via our email
c.large@btinternet.com
we will pass on any interested persons inquiries , to our clients Father in law who is dealing with the table sale .
We have an elderly couple who because of a house move cannot take their treasured snooker table with them .
due to this they are willing to listen to offers on the low side for a quick sale and removal by 2nd week of January or before Christmas would be more preferable .
no silly offers please , lets not take advantage of them .
we think it is a one section slate bed but has the much better 6 legs so central support of the slate to stop sagging in the middle .
if a three section slate then even better buy .
I have not seen the table in the flesh so cannot say what type of slate it has a one piece 8ft by 4ft , or three section jointed type .
but I think from experience of working on a few this size it has the one piece 8ft by 4ft type on it .
and we think it is a Riley as that is what they where sold from new .
The table may require a re-cloth due to fading but it is playable as it is for the time being .
looks to have full size pockets so if you cannot fit a full size then this may be ideal to practice on .
there are also some accessories with it .
the table is in Needlingworth ,ST Ives , CAMBRIDGE AREA , if you have a set of piano wheels and large van then this may be an easy move if one piece slate bed .
just remove the cushions and pocket rails to make things easy .
Frame dismantles down to parts .
Nets and leathers are in very good condition , as is the polish .
Legs are nice turned type in the style of a Riley Regis table
looks like a table cloth cover underneath .
Contact Geoff for more details please .
at GCL Billiards .
