Northern tribune. [volume] (Cheboygan, Mich.) 1875-1885, 1883-09-08

Billiard Balls.


san manufacturer of ivory billiard
pals; only the tusk of the wild ele-
phant furnishes ivory hard enough to
make into billiard balls. The fierce
temper OF the wild beast hardens and
soldifies the tusk, while that of the do
mesticated elephant is of no use for this
purpose. Henry Adolph Meyer, of
hamburg, Germany, is the largest deal
er IN ivory in the world. He sends men
into Asia, Africa and India to buy up
supplies, and there are sales at public
auction every three months in London,
which set the standard for prices over
the whole world"
slow is the ivory prepared"
"For making into billiard balls those
parts of the tusks that are of sufficient
diameter and perfectly solid are sawed
into blocks representing the diameter of
the ball, and are shipped directly to us
in that shape"
that these blocks are first put into
lathe and an ivory harness-ring turned
from the outer edges before work is be-
gun on the ball proper. After these
rings are taken off along with the
"bark'' of the tusk an eighth of an inch
thick the ball cut in the rough is laid
away to season for not less than six
months, as it is liable to crack and
shrink if used without seasoning. To
finish the ball from the rough block of
hard wood with a socket capable of
holding One-third of the ball is well
chalked and the ball inserted. The
rotating motion causes the ball to
adhere firmly to the wooden socket,
and with steady hand,
correct eye and sharp chisel the in
telligent mechanic cuts the globe with
perfect symmetry. With sharp pen
CT. he first outlines the center, then
quartering this is cut with sharp CHS
ell a delicate groove to the exact depth
Of the diameter of the designed ball,
and with practical precision the ball is
cut down to correspond with the depth
of this groove. To detect any errors in
the symmetry of the ball sheet of thin
brass has perfectly round hole one
third the diameter of the ball cut in it.
up to the light in such manner that the
light will show through wherever the
brass fails to touch the ivory. After
the chisel the finest sand paper is used,
then pumice-stone and water, and the
ball is finally polished with whiting and
alcohol. To make the little black
spot on the white ball small hole is
drilled and piece of ebony wood
forced into it. To color the balls they
are first placed in a:bath of muriatic
acid, and then in the coloring matter
boiling hot. The compounds of color
ing matter are trade secrets.
'What should be the treatment OF
billiard ballsr' asked the reporter.
"They should never be bought in the
winter" was the answer, "for ivory,
even after it is well seasoned, is sus-
ceptible to the influence of the weather,
expanding and contracting with each
change of temperature, and if these
changes are at all violent they are sure
to crack the balls. They should Away:
be kept in place of even temperature,
such as room always comfortable to live
in. When they become cracked they
should be well rubbed with sweet OIL"
"What are the sizes and pricesP'
eve make them from 2 5-16 inches
to q inches in diameter The Ameri-
can standard among professionals is p
luCllcS. COutu hulcIlCd anu SuDd IT,
quire a larger ball. They cost from $50
to $50 set, depending upon size"
"How are different colors put on pool
ballsp"
1--WE have tight-fitting brass cups to
put them in with openings like stencil
plates, and the exposed part of the ball
is touched with acid and subjected to a
bath of coloring matter"
The manufacturer had nothing to say
in favor of composition balls. They
are less elastic and durable than ivory,
besides being highly dangerous, as be-.
ing composed of gun cotton and cam
phor. This renders them liable to ex-
plode or burn if brought in contact with
"a lighted taper. A piece of compost
ton harness-ring was ignited and emit
ted strong smell of camphor, and it
burned as freely as fat pine.
In the manufacturer show-window
of the house stand pair of immense
elephant tusks, the largest in America.
they are seven feet six inches from tip
to base, and weigh III and 1913 pounds
respectively, and are worth $500. They
were taken from tame elephant from
India, that had been made to assist in
loading and unloading vessels, and
great grooves were worn in the sides of
the tusks where the rope had been al
lowed to slip in lowering heavy pack
ages.-N Y. Tribune.