The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1891-06-10
BILLIARD BALLS AND BUTTONS.
The Shining Ivories Have a Brief But
Active Existence.

How many persons who WELD a
billiard cue are aware of the time,
trouble, and expense of making the
ivory spheres? The billiard ball in its
natural state, is the principal means OF
defence for an elephant. In time the
elephant falls victim to the venture
some hunter, and he parts with his
tusks, which are the most valuable of
all his possessions to commerce. Most
of the tusks find their way to London,
which is the great sales mart for ivory.
There, twice year-spring and fall
the buyers of ivory gather.
There are different grades of ivory,
and only the finer kinds are suitable
for making billiard balls. The best
comes from the small tusks, which are
from to 6 inches in diameter at the
thickest end These are sawed into
blocks, each section being large enough
to allow of the turning of single ball.
The factories devoted to the billiard
ball industry in this country usually
receive the ivory in this shape. the
turner's know from what part of the
tusk each piece comes from. and in
this way can calculate as to its grain
and quality. 1t takes a long time to
produce perfect ball, and only skilled
labor is employed.
The exact center of the ball is first
discovered by means of measurement.
The block is then placed in Il socket
and one-half of the ball is turned by
an instrument made of the finest and
sharpest edged steel. The half-turned
ball is then hung up in a net for a
short while, then the second half Is
turned, and the ball hung up as be-
fore in room, the temperature OF
which is kept at from 60 to 20 de-
grees. The roughly turned ball is kept
in this position for about a year. Then
comes the polishing, whitening, &c.
A great deal of hard rubbing is also
necessary, as the ball before being
used should be near a certain weight
as possible, and measure 2 3-S inches
in diameter. 1t has been found i'm
possible to get two balls exactly the
same weight. Very often they will be
heavier on one side than on the other
and frequently they split right through
the center. This is due to decay.
In the window of one of the
large manufactures of billiard ball:
in this city lies tusk about two feet
long. 1t was purchased some year;
ago, and while being sawed in two th'
saw came in contact with an obstruc
. ton. 1t proved to be a rifle bullet
which had penetrated the elephan
when quite young, for the whole in
side of the tusk had decayed appear
ance.
The price of ivory for making bill
lard balls has greatly increased within
the past few years, and the deman'
exceeds the supply. The Brunswick
Bake Billiard Company have offere'
$4,000 for a perfect substitute TO
ivory. but nothing thus far has beel
invented that combines the elasticit
and durability of the ivory ball. Nc
until after it is placed on the table
!. . the real life of the billiard ball showr
! The pores in the ivory may close, an
then if the ball is kept in hot room
is likely to crack. or it may crack b
: reason of concussion with other ball
= = This is one of the great difficulties
contend against. To overcome this I'll
balls should be kept at as even Il ten
, perature as possible.
. When billiard ball is first used
occupies the first rank. A crack ma
u soon be exposed and then it is returne
: to the factory. The nick is shaved OF
and it comes back slightly smaller
size. 1t may then find its way int
some second-rate billiard-room. Aft,
% some more hard usage it is again r
L u turned to the factory and comes fort
e again much reduced in size and prob
r blv becomes cue ball in pool. Aft
= it is found to be practically useless fl
L the purpose for which it was origins
>, lv made. it is bought by dealers
Il 4 bone and ivory. and the balls are thu
u turned into buttons or they are burn'
II and used in the making of ivory blac
In Y ISn1l-