Milford chronicle., 1902-08-22
BILLIARD calls.
rhe Time. Care, Trouble and Ex-
pense OF making Them

rhe Time. Care, Trouble and Ex-
pense OF making Them.
Few persons who WELD a billiard
cue are aware Of the time, trouble
and expense of making the ivory
spheres. The billiard ball in its nat
ural state is the principal means Of
defense for an elephant. In time the
elephant falls a 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 greatest sales mart for
ivory.
There are different kinds Of ivory,
and only the finer kinds are suitable
for making billiard balls. The best
comes from the small tus5s which are
from four to six inches in diameter at
the thickest end. They are sawed into
blocks, each section being large enough
to allow of the turning Of a single
ball.
The factories devoted to the billiard
ball industry in this country usually
receive the ivory in this shape, the
sections being marked so that the
turner's know from what part Of the
tusk each piece comes and in this way
can calculate as to its grain and quail
ity. 1t takes a long time % produce a
perfect billiard ball, AID unly skilled
labor is employed
The exact center Of the ball is first
discovered by means Of measurement
The block is then placed in 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 fol-
: awhile; then the second half is turned
e and the ball hung up as before in
/, room the temperature Of which is kep
e from go to 20 degrees.
Y The roughly turned ball is kept il
= this position about year. Then come
d the polishing, whitening, etc. A goo,
D deal Of hard rubbing is also necessary
/ as the ball, before being used, Shout,
e be as near certain weight as possible
d and measure two and three-eightl
j, inches in diameter. 1t has been foun,
S impossible to get two balls exactly til
q same weight Very often they will b
s heavier on one side than on the Other
q and frequently they split right throug
a. the center. This is due to decay.
N Not until after it has been placed o
"A the table is the real life Of the billiar
ball shown. The pores of the ivor
h may close, and then if the ball is ker
= in hot room it is likely to crack. or
Il may crack by reason Of eoncussio
u with other balls This is one Of ii
u great difficulties to contend against. 7
2s overcome this the balls should be kel
" in as even a temperature as possible
~ When a billiard ball is first used,
81 occupies the first rank. A crack ma
soon be exposed and then it is returnC
to the factory The nick is shaved Of
and it comes back Slightly smaller
size. It may then find its way in
to some second rate billiard room Aft
some more hard usage it is again I
mt turned to the factory and comes for
le- again much reduced in size and pro
he ably becomes a cue ball IN pool.
'al After It is found to be practical
er useless for the purposes for which
n was originally made it is bought
RI dealers III bone and ivory, and tie b
ms is then turned into buttons or burn
raj and used in the making Of ivory bla,