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Vintage 1940s/50s could be older crystalate billiard balls in original box

Vintage 1940s/50s could be older crystalate billiard balls in original box

SKU: ODS803
£28.00Price
Only 1 left in stock

Vintage 1940s/50s could be older crystalate billiard balls in original box fabulous display item unusually has the retailers sticker inside 15 cm wide 5 cm depth 5 cm tall price is for billiard balls All other items are illustration only some age related wear

Crystalate billiard balls were made in England from 1909 until 1972, when they were replaced by Super Crystalate. Crystalate was a plastic material based on Bonzoline, a plastic invented by John Wesley Hyatt.

History

Bonzoline

Invented by John Wesley Hyatt in the 1880s, Bonzoline was a plastic used to make billiard balls.

Crystalate

George Burt, a former employee of Hyatt's Albany Billiard Ball Company, invented Crystalate in 1900. Burt and Percy Warnford-Davis established the Crystalate Manufacturing Company in Kent, England to produce Crystalate billiard balls.

Super Crystalate

In 1972, Composition Billiard Ball produced Super Crystalate, a phenol-formaldehyde-based material that replaced Crystalate.

Materials

Crystalate: A plastic material based on cellulose nitrate (CN)

Super Crystalate: A cast resin made of phenol-formaldehyde

Other uses

Crystalate Manufacturing Company also produced gramophone records

Billiards has a long history that can be traced back to the 15th century. It began as a lawn game similar to croquet, and eventually moved indoors to a table with a green cloth.

Origins

The game may have originated in Northern Europe, possibly France

The first billiards tables were made by Louis XI of France in 1469

The word "billiard" may come from the French word "billart" (a wooden stick) or "bille" (a ball)

Early play

The game was played with two balls, a hoop, and an upright stick

Players used wooden sticks called "maces" to shove the balls

The game was popular with royalty and the upper class

Shakespeare mentioned the game in Antony and Cleopatra (1606–07)

Evolution

The hoop and target were gradually removed, leaving only the balls and pockets

The game evolved over time, with tables reflecting the most fashionable furniture styles of each era

New games developed, such as Fifteen-Ball Pool, Continuous Pool, Eight-Ball, and Straight Pool

Popularity

Billiards was known as the "Noble Game of Billiards" in the early 1800s

Many US Presidents enjoyed playing billiards, including Washington, Jefferson, Grant, and Roosevelt

The earliest mention of the business indicates it was established in 1835 by Arthur and William Jelks' father. There is an advert in 1877 of Mr. Jelks of 275 Holloway Road N. London selling a horse

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