Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-03-30
MAKING A BILLIARD BALL.
From the Tusks of Ivory to the Fin
fshed Product.

MAKING A BILLIARD BALL.
From the Tusl<s of Ivory to the Fin
ished Product.
From the Globe Democrat.
When in the factory. the tusks are care
fully examined by an expert to detect any
possible flaws or cracks that may exist,
for, besides the dangers to the ivory from
careless handling while in transit, the orig
inal possessor of the ivory is by no means
so careful Of his tusks as he ought to be,
considering their value. and with the ut
most disregard of the precious material of
which they are composed. uses them for
fighting, for uprooting small trees and
shrubs. for overturning stones, ard for
grubbing in the ground without any very
definite purpose that is apparent to the
human observer. OF course, he often splits
his tusks, and very minute crack, hard
ly discernible to the eye, will seriously i'm
pair the value of long and beautiful
piece Of ivory. If the crack is extensive
the tusk must be devoted to another pur-
pose than that of making billiard balls
but supposing the tusk to be found perfect,
it is passed on to another expert, who
measures 1t and marks it at proper dis
tances to be cut into blocks.
| 1t is then sawed into lengths of IL to
inches. according to the size of the balls
to be made, and the resulting blocks are
passed or into the hands Of the turner's
Turning lathes of unusual accuracy and
deicacy are nut to work and the ivory
sawdust begins flying in all directions. Not
to he lost, however. Ivory is too precious
to be wasted. Every speck of the dust is
carefully gathered up at the end of each
days work. When a sufficient quantity
hos hee7 accumulated. 1t IS treated with
chemicals and by means of a peculiar CO.
ment and the use of a hydraulic press is
nodded into CONTACT and apparently
&I,f-
featured many small articles which pre-
sent all the appearance of ivory and are in
reality such, though not in its original
state.
| Cutting the Ivory.
On account of the value of the material
the utmost care is used in the cutting and
the cylindrical shape of the blocks enables
an economy that would not be suspected.
Every one has seen ivory martingale rings
but every one does not know that these
come from the two ends of the ivory block
that is being turned into shape for a bill
lard ball. They are cut out with as much
care as the ball itself. and afterward
rounded and polished with the same scru-
pulouS attention.
The ball ITSELF after being roughly turn
ed. is laid aside for at least six months to
season and harden, for the ivory, when
freshly cut. is very soft, or at least, very
and wien the seasoning is properly eff
fected the turning is completed and the
polishing, at first by very ingenious ma
chine. is continued with prepared chalk
end chamois, then with the leather alone,
ard finally completed with the hare palms
of the operator. The ball is now finished,
50 far as the mechanical processes of man
ufacture are concerned, and passed on to
the wholesale and retail dealers, but the
risk is by no means crded when the work
Is done, for few materials are SO sensitive
10 atmospheric and temperature changes as
ivory, and at almost any moment the ball
may become lessened in value by the ap-
pearancn on its surface of tiny cracks or
flaws. If these are superficial they impair
only the locks of the ball. but sometimes
they extend far into the interior and the
ball will then break In two or chip with
rough usage.
The vrrious Grades.
Dealers classify the balls in several ways.
the balls that are cut from the pure ivory,
all the enamel Of the trrsk being removed
in the process of manufacture. being deem
ed the most valuable. next coming those
which have small portion of enamel left
which does not impair the elasticity of the
ball, but only its looks. The balls that
show surface cracks during the process CT
seasoning are the lowest in price. The
co!oring is done with anilfne dyes. and adj
vantage is taken of the surface of the
ivory, being thus concealed. to utilize half
clear" or enamel balls and Checked" or
surface-cracked balls for coloring, while
the "all clear" balls are used as the
whites" With care, ard an occasional
cling, a set of good balls may remain in
use for several years, but there is no tell
irr what may happen to the whirlIne
spheres. for set of apparently f1rst-class
halls win sometimes become cracked, chip
ped and worthless at the end of a few
weeks.
Interesting as is the natural history of
the billiard ball, its romance Is no less at
tractive. A product of the most intelligent
of animals. grown in the wilds of tropical
forest, taken by the willy devices of savage
men. transported many hundreds of miles
on the shoulders of hap!ess slaves, the OBJ
ject for WHICH battle and murder are done,
carried round the globe by sail and steam,
manufactured into proper shape by the
labor of skilled mechanics. the means by
which professional players gain their liveli-
hood. by which amateurs pass social
hour in the billiard hall. on the private
table. often at some period of its career
in the pawn shop. finally, when its useful
ness as a billiard ball is ended, to be cut up
into toys, there are few articles of ordinary
use, even in the midst of our extraordinary
civilization, that can show more varied
history.