May 1, 1920] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



529 



BILLIARD ACCESSORIES OF RUBBER. 



NUT lO.NTE.NT with supplying the greatest improvement ever 

 made in bilHards — the resihent ledge or elastic cushion sur- 

 rounding the slate bed of the table, the one feature which has 

 made the modern game possible — india rubber has provided dev- 

 otees of the game with numerous accessories, most of which 

 are quite indispensable. Not the least of these is the rubber- 

 backed cloth which is largely replacing the old-time broadcloth. 

 This cloth is now made in -America and equals the best produced 

 in Europe. It has a hne, close weave, with nap and finish to 

 suit the most critical player, and it is made in various thick- 

 nesses to suit the different types of tables, as well as being 

 woven to three sizes of beds. Even special care has been taken 

 in dyeing in order to produce not only the standard blue-green 

 color easy for the eyes under electric light, but also giving an 

 effect that will harmonize with modern room-lighting. This 

 material costs somewhat more than the old-fashioned billiard 

 cloth, but this is more than offset, it is said, by its remarkably 

 long wear. Moreover, skilful players note a decided advantage 

 in having a slight cushion between the slate and the cloth. They 

 say that with it shots can be made with much more accuracy 

 than on the old, deader surface. 



RUBBER CTTE GRIPS. 



To keep cues from slipping, the butts have been covered with 

 cork. leather, twine, and silk and cotton braid, but players have 



ibie hard rubber markers. The latter are also used now on 

 marker stands and frames, preferred by many to the old and 

 often unhandy overhead counting device. 



HARD RUBBER TRIANGLES. 



With the passing of the old "pool room," to which more or 

 less odium was attached, has come the "pocket billiards parlor." 

 Here again rubber serves the players' needs in providing ebonite 

 triangles to take the place of the maple ones so long used to ar- 

 range the fifteen balls in a pyramid. The hard rubber triangles 

 have extra strong reinforced corners and users find they stand 

 harder handling than the wooden contrivances. 



RUBBER CEMENTS. 



One of the least costly and most useful articles to the billiardist 

 is rubber cement for attaching cue tips, etc. This article is put 

 up in small tubes, and is much superior to glue preparations. 

 Many players who want quick repairs find much satisfaction in 

 using rubber cemented cue tips, which can be had in every size. 



POCKET NET RINGS. 



Pocket nets now have rubber rings instead of wood to lessen 

 noise and ease the fall of balls. Careful players find that this 

 simple precaution adds to the life of the balls and helps to keep 

 them true. 



RUBBER CHALK HOLDERS. 



Much satisfaction is derived by knights of the cue from the 

 rubber chalk receptacles. These holders are made in tlie round 



TRIANGLE 



CHALK RECEPTACLES RAIL CHALK HiJlOER BALL RETURN 



H.\R[» AM) ^OVT RlBBER SpECI.\LTIES ThaT .Are IxniSPEXS.J 



found an excellent substitute for all these in a rubber cue grip. 

 or sleeve, nine inches long, which will quickly transform any 

 common cue into a perfectly non-slippable one. 



RUBBER NOISE SUBDUERS. 



The annoyance of cues bumping on floors is now easily over- 

 come with rubber noise-subduers, one style being made with a 

 nail attachment and a larger one, with an opening for a counter- 

 sunk screw. 



RUBBER TABLE COVERS. 



Rubber-coated table covers are largely used now instead of 

 'ililolh covers, as the paint-like coating on the latter soon cracks 

 in handling and exposes the thin fabric through which dampness 

 in inclement weather reaches the tightly stretched cloth on the 

 table bed. This cloth readily absorbs moisture, offering greater 

 resistance to the cue ball and requiring more force to drive it to 

 an objective point. 



HARD RUBBER BALLS. 



Billiard balls of hard rubber are now being used instead of 

 the more expensive ivory spheres. .\n infinite number of tests 

 have proved them not only much livelier hut also much more 

 'lur.ible than the old-style composition balls. 



BILLIARD MARKERS OF RUBBER. 



In up-to-date billiard rooms wooden buttons suspended on a 

 wire above the table are giving way to the neater and indestruct- 



form only, one style being open at one end and the other open 

 at two ends. They hang on weighted cords like other holders, 

 either from above the table or on an under-rail frame. 



FOR BALL RETURN. 



.■\mong the drawbacks of the original ball return device used 

 beneath the table for pocket billiards were the noisy troughs or 

 runways. Here again rubber proved to be a boon. It was 

 placed in the troughs and all click and clatter ceased as the 

 balls were holed and guided to the receptacle at the end of the 

 table. 



CORRUGATED MATTING. 

 .\ Strong demand has developed for corrugated rubber matting 

 beneath and around billiard tables. Not only are the looks of 

 the table improved with such floor covering, but the firm yet 

 elastic surface of the matting adds much to the comfort of 

 players and lessens fatigue in long games. The ribbed matting 

 is !^-inch thick and mitered at corners. It is made in nine sizes. 



OTHER RUBBER SUPPLIES. 



Other accessories in rubber include cushion packing facings 

 for pocket openings in sets of twelve, tubing for cue roque table 

 posts, and corrugated rubber mats for cuspidors. 



The Research .Association of the British Rubber Tvre 

 Maiuifacturers has elected R. D. Porritt as its director. 



