Many of the advertisements that you see on search engines are not what they appear to be , many claiming to be experienced in the art of billiard fitting for snooker and pool tables are just agents passing on work to qualified people , they then take a commission out of the price for passing on this work . this applies mainly to Pool table operators who recover pool tables passing on information to proper time served billiard fitters who are then hit with a commission fee or sub contract to the middleman for a fixed labour fee.
When looking for experienced people to work on youre cue sports table , always do some home work , ask if they or an EMPLOYEE ( not subcontractor ) will be doing the work or passing the information onto a third party .
At GCL BILLIARDS we are fully experienced billiard fitters for working on any cue-sports table , UK POOL , AMERICAN POOL , OLD BILLIARD TABLES , and modern SNOOKER TABLES , BAGATELLE AND BAR BILLIARDS , the best way to find out if the person you are talking to is fully qualified in the art of Billiard fitting , is to ask technical questions , such things as pocket sizes and cushion rubber height , table height , History of tables etc , difference between tables made in periods significant changes where made such as pocket plate design , slate first used , what was used before rubber etc .
GCL BILLIARDS will not overcharge for their service , a pool table recover starts at £185 , a Full size snooker table £430 club cloth £450 Tournament cloth , and we only use top graded strachan cloth unless the customer prefers another choice .
we will point out we are not the lowest price , yet we are also not the dearest price , we try and stay within £20 of our equal competition , that extra £20 is for Experience , and safe in the knowledge that your table is in safe hands and that we are using top quality materials not seconds as some do .
And you can be assured you will have the work carried out by a TIME SERVED billiards fitter . *** with no added commission or middlemen charges.***
GCL billiards do not subcontract to other firms and we do not use sub contract fitters , we have our own identity and our own fitting standards based on 42 years experience , we do not want to assist another firm who do not have the same experience have that skill and compete against us in our market sector , it would be like letting someone in on our area and helping them establish themselves using our 40 year experience and skills as a spring board ,
and say to them HERE YOU ARE TAKE OUR WORK AND WE WILL WORK FOR YOU !
Our main area covers from Sheffield to Northampton and East coast to Stoke on Trent , we do further than this but we like to remain a Billiards firm that concentrates at least 90% of its clientele in the midlands .
I am constantly refusing subcontract work for other firms on a monthly basis as they try to muscle in on our area .
Most of these firms that contact us are just keyboard firms using subcontractors around the UK to form a business of which they pay peanuts to the firm and pocket a good percentage for themselves .
they have no experience in Billiards / Snooker & pool table fitting apart from what they have read on the internet or from books .
I do take on the odd table sale from other firms say from Scotland , that require a fitting service if they have sold to a client in my area , but that is about as far as I will let other firms into my area and to compete against us .
My advice to anyone seeking a skilled firm for their snooker or pool table re-cover is to look at that firms past work and standing within the Billiards fitting community .
Geoff Large of GCL Billiards has over 42 years personal experience of Billiards fitting from early antique Billiard tables to modern day Billiard tables that are mainly designed for the game of Snooker .
We also have a vast experience on Pool tables renovation , from UK pub type tables to 9ft american pool tables .
Brunswick 9ft pool tables at Butlins Skegness maintained by GCL billiards
Sam american K steel pool tables installed by GCL billiards .
Tag Archives: Billiards Fitter
For Sale 9ft Riley Snooker table, another Genuine 3/4 size
Due to people now logging into the website for our FREE FOR SALE blog, we are having many enquiries to advertise snooker tables for sale.
So we now have two 9ft tables on the web site for sale by private sellers, this newly listed 9ft snooker table is based near Burnley.
The photos tell the story, a very nice condition circa 1910/1920s Riley Billiard snooker table. I have not seen the table for a close inspection but from the photos it looks in very good condition and is in a dry warm room. It has had a re-rubber some time ago by Willie Smith of Leeds, the Smith badge looks around 1950/60s, but it may have been rerubbered again after that. There is a genuine original Riley cushion badge that looks to be made out of Ivory. The seller is looking for offers around £1700.
Due to other firms getting in touch with our clients who are selling tables on this Blog (and trying to get the work for transporting and set up) I am now taking all enquiries for all of the for sale Snooker & Pool tables advertised on GCL Billiards blog. I will then pass on any genuine details to the seller and buyer, who I hope will use GCL Billiards qualified billiards fitting team to move the table. A man and a van and his mate is not the way to move these tables, they require expert workmanship in both the dismantling and loading, plus the important set up and leveling of the table making sure the cloth is fitted correctly and all slate joints are level and all bolts torqued up to the correct tension. Only a time served Billiards Fitter can do this to a high standard .
Enquiries for this table to c.large@btinternet.com quote 9ft riley near burnley in post heading.