The Pascagoula democrat-star. (Pascagoula, Miss.) 1878-1920, 1883-09-28
BILLIARD BALLS.
How They are Cut From the
Tusks of the Wild III plant.
and Colored.

'N [" oNoHataNtHAti VI ttttiaAA
balls: "Only the tusk OF the wild
elephant furnishes Ivory hapl
enough to make iuto billiard balls.
The fierce temper OF the will blast
hsrdels aud solidilieS the iusk,
while that OF the domfNeatesl ei.s.
phant is of no use tor this purpose.
Henry Adolph Meyer, OF Hamburg,
Germany, is tue largest dealer in
iyor, iI the world. He sends men
into Asia, Africa and India, 10 buy
up supplies, aud there are sales 1T
public auction every three months
Ia London, which set the standard
foT prices all over the wvrld."
"How is the ivory prepared'7 r
asked a reporter.
"For making into billiard balls,
those parts OF tue tusks that r. OF
sufficient diameter aud perfectly
soild are sawed into blocks repre-.
senting the diameter Of the ball,
and are shipped directly to Us IN
that shape.n
On visiting the workshop il was
found that these blocks are first
put into lathe aud au ivory has.
ness-ring turned from the cuivr
edges before work is begun on the
ball proper. Alter these rings air
;pken of, along with the shark 1t
the tusks an eighth of an inch
thick, the ball cut IN the rough !,
laid away TO season for not irs-.
than Fix roaIhs, as it is liable 80
crack aud shrink ii usel without
seasoning. To flush the ball from
the rough block . OF hard wool
with a socket capable OF holding
oue.third ofthe ball is well chaiked
and the ball inserted. The roiatih z
motion ciuses the ball TO adhere
ilrnly To the wooden socket, and
with sieldy hand, correct e,e
aud sharp chisel, the intelligent
mechanic cuts the Globe wi.h per.
feet symmetry With a sharp pen.
Gil he outlines the centre, then
qnarteriugrhis is cut with Il sharp
chisel u delicate groove TO the
exact depth of the diameter OF the
designed ball, aud with practicciI
precision the ball is cut down 10
correspond With the depth Of this
groove. To detect any error 10 the
symmety OF the ball u shees tf thin
brass has u perfectly round hoe
one.!hiId the diameter ot the bali
cut in it. Tue ball is placed in this
hole, and held to the light in such
n manner that the light will show
through wherever the brass III X
TO touch the ivory. After tbs
chisel the finest sandpapers; then
pumice-sioue aud water, aud the
bali is finally polished With whiting
and alcohol. TO make the little
back spot Oh the white bali "a
email hole Is drilled, and II piece Ut
ebony wood forced into it, 1o
color the balls they are hist placed
ina BATH OF muriatic acid, and then
iu the coloring matter while boil
Ing hot. The compounds OF the
coloring matter are trade secrets.
"What should he the treatment
of billiard bailsr asked the ie.
porter.
"They should not be bought in
WINTER Twas the answer, "for ivory,
even after it Is well SEASONED. ls
susceptible to tue influence of the
weather, expanding aud Contract.
ing with each change OF temrcra.
ture, aud ii these changes are at
all violent they are sure TO crack
the balls. They should alyay bs
kept in a place OF even tpnpera.
ture, such as room always com.
Portable TO live in. When they be.
come cracked they should be we'll
rubbed with sweet OIL"
"What are the sizes and prices y
awe make them 2 8 10 inches I"
E25 5S inches in diameter. The
American standard among the
professionals is 2 3.S inches. South
America aud Cuba require a larger
ball. They cost from $50 to $50 ~
set, depending upon sizc.'
"How are the different colors put
OH pool balls n
ave have tight fitting brass Guns
to put them in, with openings like
stencil plates, aud the exposed
part OF the ball is touched Will,
ncld aud subjected to ~ bath OF
coloring matter.'
tn the manufacturers show win
dow of the house stand n PAIR OF
immense elephant tusks, the
largest in America. They nru
seven feet six inches frcm tlp to
base, weigh lit aud 123 pounds
respec ively, and are worth $500,
They were taken from tame ele.
-phant from India that ha,l beel,
made to assist in loading and IN.
loadiug vessels, and gfent grooves
we're worn in the sides Of the insks
where the rope had been allowed tu
nIin. loxeor,,ne r. hoa,.v t,af3ltasy.s