The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1890-03-26
MAKING BILLIARD BALLS,
a Description of the Delicate Processes in
Their Manufacture.


In little room of n factory in this
city there is suspended in nets from the
ceiling, undergoing the process of dry
ing and seasoning, a small portion of
what represents $50, 900 worth of bill
lard balls carried the year round by
the firm. OF course the insurance on a
stock of this kind is very high, but no
billiard-ball manufacturer will get any
recompense for the destruction of a
mass of balls through intense cold or
intense heat unless it is that the dam
AGE or loss is the direct result of
fire Let a draught of frosty air
strike the balls. and they are ruined,
so far rs their initial purpose is con-
cerned.
10 thoroughly understand this indus
try of making billiard balls one must
begin at the very bottom, or, in other
words. make flying visit with the
writer into the jungles of Asia and AT
rica. where the elephant abounds. We
all know to some extent how the paGhy-
derm is captured, or killed, as the case
may be. The tusks are removed, and
save for brief washing at the hands
of the natives, are Immediately sent to
one of the trading stations. Thence
the tusks are forwarded, when the
amount is large enough. to firms in
London, Amsterdam, Hamburg and
New York. Most of it goes to Ham
burg, and it is from that city that the
manufacturers in this country obtain
the supply that is directly intended for
billiaTd-balls.
The firm in Hamburg that handles
this article has such portions of the
tusks as are suited to billiard balls cut
into small blocks. On the face of one
end is the crest of the firm and the size
of the ball intended to be cut from that
particular piece-2 9-8 inches in diam
eter-and on the other end is a number
| indicative of the particular portion of
the tusk this lump of ivory once form
I ed. This latter fact is of immense
value to turner's, for by it they are en-
abled to select four pieces of the same
| grain, fact that will be appreciated
| by experts who demand that the balls
used in matches shall be out of the same
| tusk.
In shipping the ivory to this country
the pieces are carefully packed in hogs
heads The import duty is high, and
to this item alone must be attributed
the high price of set of billiard balls.
The firms engaged in manufacture of
the balls in this country must OF neceS-
sitv keep Il large stock in order that
the ivory may be thoroughly seasoned.
| Ivory is gelatinous substance and re-
quires to be dried. A ball never shrinks
at the end grain-that is to say, in the
way the tusk grows-but always in the
diameter.
The process of manufacture appears
to be very simple, but as a matter of
fact it requires great skill. The jour
neyr,rer, et,~aeed in -it-spent years as
apprentices before they became full
fedged. The scrivelloe, as the lump
of ivory is called, is placed in an ivory
chuck, one-half or fraction more OF
the ball is turned, the instrument used
being of the finest tempered steel and
exceedingly sharp.
The ring that is taken off is often
used as a coupling ring for Il pair of
horses. Sometimes the surplus piece
can be used for cue tips. One may be
assured of this much-no piece of the
ivory, 10 matter how small, is wasted.
Even the shavings and saw-dust are
burned and used in the manufacture of
ivory black.
To see a billiard ball turner work is
to a remarkable degree, but he devOtes
himself most assiduouSly to his labor.
Ask him Il question and he'll answer in
monosyllable us though he was tired
If the world and of the questioner in
particular. There is reason for all this,
for his position. though it does not strike
one forcibly at the outset, is one of grave
responsibility. When it is considered
ith Il Of Of
EDnlv four or five perfect sets can be OBJ
.ained, one will instantly appreciate
the distrait. cutting manner of the
turner.
After the second half has been turn
ed it is hung up with its fellows in F.;
net for Il year to dry. No artificial
heat is used. but every effort is taken t.
prevent extreme heat or cold reaching
the nets.
Besides the size the weight must alsC
be exact, for this is essential to the cor
rect playing of the game Of billiards
Balls of the same tusk vary considera
bly, Judged by the density of the pores
and so there must be a careful selec
ton. After the balls have been thor
Oughly seasoned they 90 through Wha
is really the most delicate part OF tn,
process of manufacturing that is, the
final turning and polishing. The pol
ishing is done simply by whitening anC
water with a good deal of elbow grease
A ball always retains its beautiful pol
ish.
The life of billiard ball is very un
certain. 1t will not remain true NJ
matter how much it is seasoned be
cause of its continual conclusion
which causes the pores of the ivory tt
close up. If a ball is played with fire.
quently in hot room it is liable t
crack and become untrue. 1t is not al
unusual thing, Notwithstanding the car,
taken in manufacturing. for a ball It
become untrue in a match of thou
sand up. Once this thing happens tn,
ball is returned to the factory anC
not more than one-twentieth part OF
an inch is turned off it. but thereafter
the ball thus operated on cannot b,
used in match game. If the core
does not run straight through the ball
because of being cut out Of a circular
tooth, it always runs untrue.-N Y
Ltruid.