Bar Billiards Table

[Geoff Large]

Phil

the timer sends a bar down to keep all balls in and you play with what balls are left in the rack , the last shot could entail sending the ball across the table and into the first pocket on the rebound , knock down the peg or hole rule and you still can lose even if you have a higher score .

https://www.mastersofgames.com/rules...ards-rules.htm

[DeanH]

I do miss the game and always thought that it was perfect for pubs with a corner as the table only needs two sides open
I only ever once played the clock out, i.e. all 17mins with the opponent not having a go, and it was a league match, came close so many times - felt like a 147

[vjmehra]

So funny, isn't it. Just now, in UK, you could probably get a 12' table for free if you looked around. Perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, pubs were probably throwing bar billiard tables out, but now they are expensive.

I don't suppose the timer mechanism is essential. The timer on a phone, or just a clock, would do the job equally well.

Yep I thought the same thing, in the coin-op versions when the timer ends a bar drops down internally to stop the balls coming out again. But as you say for free-play at home it's not really necessary.

[philip in china]

So funny, isn't it. Just now, in UK, you could probably get a 12' table for free if you looked around. Perhaps 20 or 30 years ago, pubs were probably throwing bar billiard tables out, but now they are expensive.

I don't suppose the timer mechanism is essential. The timer on a phone, or just a clock, would do the job equally well.

[vjmehra]

What a lovely game. I can see why you would want a table.

It is an interesting game, very few places have tables (I've only ever played it a couple of times I have to confess)!

My motivation for getting one, is simply that I have a corner of the house that it would fit in and unlike say an English Pool table you don't need the space to cue all around, so its (sort of) more practical!

[philip in china]

What a lovely game. I can see why you would want a table.

[vjmehra]

Can I show my ignorance and ask how it is played?

In simple terms:

1) You take all your shots from one end
2) There are 8 balls (7 white & 1 red)
3) The red doubles your score (if you pot it)
4) You can pot the balls in any hole
5) If you hit one of the mushrooms you lose either all your points from that break, or for the entire game (depending on which one you hit)
6) The easier holes aren't guarded by mushrooms, but you score less points for potting

This video is actually quite a good example of how to play:

https://youtu.be/yQA7GGDuGek

[philip in china]

Can I show my ignorance and ask how it is played?

[vjmehra]

They have always been high priced.

very popular game down south , Bar billiard tables are in demand and not enough tables for sale = High prices

unlike full size snooker tables thousands for sale yet a handful of buyers , but at low prices people will buy them and that is why snooker table relocation is booming at the moment .

You can pick Bar billiards up without the coin mech working for around £600 on Ebay

but the mechanical timer is part of the game and to find one fully operational they are going to be closer to the £1500 limit you have set yourself with new rubber and recent re-cloth .

and they are no DIY job to re-cover , I have seen many broken slates with rough handling of tapping those ball rings in .

best ones to get are the ones made by Sams atlas , but nothing to do with the Sam billiards of Coventry who specialist in american pool tables .

Orme and sons made some nice ones in oak

Square legged ones are more solid made than the turned leg versions .

Thank you Geoff, appreciate the tips...I think I need to accept that the budget will have to go up, but I will continue searching some of the names you mentioned.

[Geoff Large]

They have always been high priced.

very popular game down south , Bar billiard tables are in demand and not enough tables for sale = High prices

unlike full size snooker tables thousands for sale yet a handful of buyers , but at low prices people will buy them and that is why snooker table relocation is booming at the moment .

You can pick Bar billiards up without the coin mech working for around £600 on Ebay

but the mechanical timer is part of the game and to find one fully operational they are going to be closer to the £1500 limit you have set yourself with new rubber and recent re-cloth .

and they are no DIY job to re-cover , I have seen many broken slates with rough handling of tapping those ball rings in .

best ones to get are the ones made by Sams atlas , but nothing to do with the Sam billiards of Coventry who specialist in american pool tables .

Orme and sons made some nice ones in oak

Square legged ones are more solid made than the turned leg versions .

[vjmehra]

A friend goes to a social club that has recently got a BB table; I will ask him where they got it from
I have seen them with working mechs from anything from £1200 which really surprised me as some years ago they could not give them away!
I used to play in a league which was fantastic

Thank you, that would be much appreciated.

I got a reply from one of the companies Geoff suggested and they said due to (very) limited availability of new tables (in that the main supplier no longer makes them), second hand values have shot up!

[DeanH]

A friend goes to a social club that has recently got a BB table; I will ask him where they got it from
I have seen them with working mechs from anything from £1200 which really surprised me as some years ago they could not give them away!
I used to play in a league which was fantastic

[vjmehra]

Bad thing really , it is a rough one that .

it may be that Supreme have stopped making them or only make them to order ?

so you may have to look at renovated older ones .

It's definitely looking that way, but that's cool, maybe I can find something with a bit of history attached (or just happens to look good, failing that :-)

May have to up the budget a bit first though :-(

[Geoff Large]

Bad thing really , it is a rough one that .

it may be that Supreme have stopped making them or only make them to order ?

so you may have to look at renovated older ones .

[vjmehra]

Thank you Geoff, I was (perhaps mistakenly) under the impression those Supreme ones were no longer being made. I have just e-mailed a couple of the companies you mentioned, so hopefully they may be able to clarify things.

I got a bit put off the one on ebay because of the motorcycle battery bit...I'm no electrician so have no idea if thats a good or a bad thing...but it didn't sound like it was a standard solution!