Expert: Bill Newsted - 10/22/2009

Question
QUESTION: I have a 9ft 3 piece slate pool table.It has a copper plate saying national billiard supply co Chicago Detroit on it.It also has a sticker of some sort saying patented with a bunch of dates ending with aug 1917.It has no other labels on except maybe serial #s on pieces on the bottom.Sorry no pic.My ? is how can i maybe find out where this pool table came from and maybe if it has any value.Thank you for your time and any help you may be able to offer.

ANSWER: Well, without a picture it's a little difficult. Back at that time companies that installed, repaired, and/or sold tables often put there own name on them. It's common to find Brunswick tables of that era with a variety of nameplates.

You could do a search for the patent numbers at Google to see who requested the patents, that would probably tell you the real manufacturer. Google's patent search is at:

    http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en

Also, there was a manufacturer by that name and it could be one of their tables. Like Brunswick, National Billiard is still in business. If the patent numbers go back to them you can contact them at:

National Billiard Mfg. Co.
3315 Eugenia Avenue
Covington, KY  41015

1-800-543-0880

They also have a website at:

    http://nationalbilliard.com/ although it's not substantial.

If you send a photo I may recognize the table.

Best,

Bill


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Here is a couple photos of my pool table that i wasnt able to send the other day. Do you recognize it.Thanks for all your help.

Answer
Looks like a Brunswick Marquette, it has the Pfister shape. Although it may not be a top collectible, these are less common than many other Brunswick tables. This one looks to be in good shape. I'd hang on to it.

Check these links and see what you think:

1)  http://tinyurl.com/yhu2ze6
2)  http://tinyurl.com/ygvozcz
3)  http://tinyurl.com/yzun7va

Did you try the patent search?

Bill