The Columbus journal., 1884-01-02
Billiard Balls.

Said a manufacturer of ivory billiard
balls: Only ;hr tusk OF the I'd ele-
plant furnishes ivory hard enough to
make into billiard balls. The fierce
temper of the wild beast hardens and
solidiiies the tusk, while that of the do
mcsticated 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"
'.HOw 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"
On visiting the workshop it was found
that these blocks are first put into a
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 oft along with the
Dtih VI tuC tuSh al ClSHtI VI ill IN
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 a block OF
hard wood with q socket capable of
holding onc-third of the ball is we'll
chalkad and the ball inserted. The
rotating motion causes the ball to
adhere firmly to the wooden socket,
and with 4 steady hand, q
correct eye and a sharp chisel the in
telligent mechanic cuts the globe with
perfect symmetry. With a sharp pen
ell he first outlines the center, then
Guartering this is cut with a 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 a sheet of thin
brass has a perfectly round hole one
third the diameter of the ball cut in it.
The hall is placed in this hole and held
up to the light in such q n that tho
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 a small hole Is
drilled and a 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
.ag matter are trade secrets.
"What should be the treatment of
billiard balls?" asked the reporter.
They should never be bought in the
winter,n 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 always
be kept in a place of even temperature,
such rs a room always comfortable to live
in. When they become cracked they
should be well rubbed with sweet oil"
"What are the sizes and prices"
..We make them from 2 SIG inches
to q inches in diameter. The Ameri-
can standard among professionals is q
inches. South America and Cuba re-
quire a larger ball. They cost from $40
to $50 n set, depending upon size
..How are different colors put on pool
bails?'
I'VE 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 =
bath of coloring matter"
The manufacturer had nothing to say
in favor of composition balls. They
arc 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-
plodc or burn if brought in contact with
"a lighted taper. A piece of compost
ton harncsS-rin@ was ignitcd and emit
ted 4 strong smell of camphor, and it
burned rs freely as fat pine.
In the manufacturers show-windOw
of the house stand a pair of immense
elcphan: tusks. the largest in America.
they are seven feet six inches from tip
10 base. and weigh III and 1873 pounds
respectively. ana are worth $500. They
were taken from tame elephant from
India, that had been made 70 assist in
loading and unloading vessels, and
great grooves were worn % the sides Of
the tusks where the rope Asd been q.
lowed to slip in lowering Navy peek
Agea-N 2. NI1ssA