The record-union., 1898-11-21
BILLIARD CUES.
Wel1-seasoned Wood the Firss Re-
quisite for Good Articles.

Billiard rooms and bowling alleys are
being renovated. reftted and rcfur-
nished for the winter season, and the
manufacturers of cues and balls have
large orders from clubs and individu-
ais. In many instances last years
cues are being thrown aside and new
cues put in the racks, and owners won
der why the strong, highly polished
sticks warped and lost their shape
since the time when they were used.
They were too near the radiator is
one theory, and ethe two kinds Of wood
from which they are made are not OF
equal density is another theory. Then
some people say that the change OF
temperature warps the cues.
''They are all wrong" said a manil-
facturer of the article, because WE'LL
made cue will not warp If you leave it
for hours against a radiator and then
throw 1t into a snowbank. To make
a good cue, however, you must have a
piece Of thoroughly seasoned maple. it
must be cut properly and then it can't
be made to warp"
Most cues are made in two pieces;
the cue proper and the handle. The
cue is made of maple and the butt end,
cut wedge shaped, is inserted into a
handle of rosewood, snakewood, ebony,
mahogany or some other dark wood
which is cut to dovetail with the long
part. The best cues are fitted to the
handle or butt end by means Of a
double wedge. At the top Of the cue
is ferrule Of ivory, bone or horn, in
which the leather tip is fastened. Al
though the ivory ferrule is the most
expensive, it is less durable than the
horn or bone ferrule, which are less
likely to split
The latest pattern cue is made in two
pieces and Joined in the middle. 1t
may be unscrewed, and can be carried
in that way in trunk or dressing-case
or in cases made for that purpose. The
extra workmanship on cues is pat in on
the butt ends, some of which are elab-
orately inlaid and delicately carved
Handles Of cork and plain wood cov-
cred with linen twine are among the
most popular.
People have their fads and fancies
in the way of billiard cues said a
manufactures, "and in order to satisfy
them we have to make all sorts and
kinds of sticks, all weights, all lengths.
and ranging in price from 35 cents to
$50"
Many billiard players will not ALLOW
another person to use their cues, and
for the use Of these particular players
cues are made from which the tops
may be unscrewed, leaving the cues
with unfinished points and useless.
What is true of the cue is equally
true of the bowling ball." said Mr..
Marx, "and there would be fewer
warped, splintered and cracked bow
ling balls If the wood from which they
are made had more sea soning.'
These balls are all made from lignum
vitae, and range in price from 50 up.
Weight and size are determined by the
player, and for that reason four or
| five sizes are always provided at we'll
| furnished alleys. Since bowling has
| become popular it is the proper thing
| for a player to have his own individ-
ual ball, and a large business is being
done by manufacturers in extra finished
| articles in that line. Cases made OF
canvas and leather are used for these
balls. The popular size is twenty-seven
inches in circumference and the price
about S3.-New York Tribune