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