The state herald., 1890-04-18
MAKING BILLIARD BALLS.
A Description OF the Delicate Proccsses n
Their Manufacture.

In little room of II factory In this
sity there Is suspended in nets from the
ceiling, undergoing the process of dry
ing and seasoning. small portion of
what represents $50, 900 worth of bill
lard balls carried the year round by
the firm. OF course the insurance on Il
stock Of this kind is very high. hut no
billiard-ball manufacturer will get any
rcc0mpcnse for the destruction of Il
mass Of balls through intense cold or
intense heat unless it is that tho dam
age or loss is the direct result of u
fire. Let draught of frosty air
strike the balls, and they are ruined.
so far rs their initial purpose is con-
cerned.
To thoroughly understand this indus
try of making billiard balls one must
begin at the very bottom, or. in other
words, makea lying visit with the
writer into the jungles OF Asia and AZ
rica, where the elephant abounds. We
all know to some extent how the pacly-
derm is iscaptuled, or killed, as the case
may be. The tusks arc removed, and
save for u brief washing ut 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 1t Is from that city that the
manufacturers in this country obtain
the supply that is directly intended for
billiard-balls.
The firm in Hamburg that handles
this article has such portions of the
t,,sks 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 3-s inches in diam
eter-and on the other end is number,
indicative of the particular portion of
the tusk this lump of ivory once FORM
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 a fact that will be appreciated
by experts who demand that the balls
used in matches shall be ont 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 II set of billiard balls.
The firms engaged in manufacture of
the balls in this country must of ncces-
sity keep large stock in order that
the ivory may bo thoroughly seasoned.
Ivory is a gelatinous substance and re-
quircs TO be dried. A ball never shrinks
ut the end grain--that is to say, in the
way the tusk grows-but always in the
diameter.
The process Of manufacture appears
10 be very simple, but as u matter of
fact il requires great skill. The jour-
ncymcn engaged in ii spent years as
apprentices before they became full
iledgcd. The scrivclloc. as the lump
of ivory is called. is placed in an ivory
chuck, one-half or n fraction more OF
the ball is turned, the instrument used
being OF the finest tempered steel and
exceedingly sharp.
The ring that is taken of is often
used as coupling ring for pair of
horses. Sometimes the surplus piece
can bc used for cue tips. One may be
assured OF this mucli-no piece Of the
ivory, no matter how small is wasted.
Even the shayings and saw-dust are
burned and used in the manufacture OF
ivory black
To see billiard ball turner work is
great treat. lie is silent and iaciturn
10 n remarkable degree, but he devote,
himself most assiduously TO his labor.
Ask him n question aud he'll answer in
II monosyllable, ms though he was tired
OF the world and of the gucstioncr in
particular There is reason for all this,
for his position, though II does no, strike
one forcibly nj the outset, j. one OF gray,
responsibility. When il is considered
that out Of dozens of pieces of Nor,
only four or five perfect sets tam bc oh.
tanned, Que will instantly appreciate
the distrait, cutting manner Of the
turner.
After The second half has been turn.
ed il is hung up with It's fellows in a
net for year 10 dry. No artificial
heat Is used. but every effort Is taken 10
prevent extreme heat or cold reaching
the nets.
Besides the size the weight must also
be exact, for this is essential 10 the cor
rect playing Of the game of billiards.
Balls of the same tusk vary considcra-
bly, judged by the density of the pores.
nnd so there must be careful sclec-
iion. After the balls have been thor
oughly seasoned they 20 through what
is really the most delicate part of the
process OF manufacturing tha, Is. the
final turning aud polishing. The pol.
i'hing is done simply by whitening and
water with good deal Of elbow grease.
A ball always retains its beautiful pol
ish.
The life Of billiard ball Is very uu-
certain. 1t will not remain true no
matter how much il is seasoned be-.
cause OF its continual conclusion.
which causes the pores of the ivory to
close up. II n ball is played with FIRE.
quenily In n hot room Il is liable to
crack aud become untrue. |, Is not an
unusual thing. Notwithstanding the care
taken IN manufacturing for a ball TO
become untrue In match of n thou-
sand up. Once this thing happens the
ball is returned to the factory and
not more than onc-twcnticth part OF
an inch Is turned OIL it. but thereafter
the ball thus operated on cannot bc
used In . match game. II the core
does not run straight through the ball.
because Of being cut out OF circular
tooth. II always runs untruc.-M T.
Uerdii.
Peculiar Family Names