What billiard balls are made of: history, materials, technologies

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

The date of creation of billiards, as well as the name of its inventor, is unknown to historians. The first evidence of the existence of such a game dates back to the 15th century: French explorers discovered a billiard-like table built around 1470 and dating back to the era of Louis 11. History is silent about what the billiard balls of that time were made of, but some data allow one to speculate.

A bit of history

In the 17th century, the game of billiards spread widely in Europe and became available to all segments of the population. During this period, billiard tables began to be placed in public entertainment establishments of various levels, so that even the poor could play billiards. For the production of tables, durable wooden boards covered with dense fabric were used, and the inside of the boards was sheathed with felt.

What are billiard balls made of for cheappubs, unfortunately, are unknown, but expensive accessories were made from ivory. Moreover, the tusks of only females were used, since in elephants the capillaries are located exactly in the center of the tusk, while in males they are shifted to the side. In the first case, the billiard ball turned out to be perfectly balanced, and in the second case, it had different density and weight in some parts, so it could deviate from the desired trajectory.

From one pair of elephant tusks, only 4-5 balls were obtained, so for a complete set it was necessary to kill or maim 3-4 individuals. Indian elephants are larger than African elephants, therefore they were valued much more expensively. Due to the high cost and complexity of extracting the material, the owners of gaming tables were in constant search for alternatives. So, the teeth and bones of large wild animals, marine life were used, other natural materials were also used, but none of them could provide the required level of comfort. All players, except for the nobility and representatives of high society, were forced to use low-quality shells, which negatively affected the quality of the game.

Invention of celluloid

Ivory was used to make billiard balls until the end of the 19th century. John Hyatt, an American chemist, engineer, entrepreneur and inventor, patented a revolutionary new material in 1869 - celluloid. What are the next generation billiard balls made of? It is from this material. However, disturbing rumors spread among the population, which were then partially confirmed. The first celluloid turned out to be combustible, balls,made from it, in some cases self-ignited and exploded. After unsuccessful attempts to correct the feedstock, John Hyatt abandoned further development and completely curtailed production.

Invention of Bakelite

In 1912, another talented American, Leo Baekeland, managed to create a new material that forever changed the way billiard balls were made. The new high-strength plastic turned out to be easy to process, did not ignite and was relatively cheap. However, the material was improved in the 1930s.

What billiard balls are made of these days

For the production of game accessories, a special composite material based on phenol-formaldehyde resin is used. Approximately 80% of all pool balls in the world are produced by a Belgian company under the Aramith brand. Information about what billiard balls are made of and the secrets of creation are not a secret. The best accessories for professional use are made from phenolic resin and are a perfectly rounded one-piece ball. Due to the uniform density, the balls are often used for the manufacture of various crafts. There are no number of options for what can be made from a billiard ball: bracelets, earrings, rosaries, pendants, all kinds of figurines.

Cheaper versions of balls for amateur play are made in China and Taiwan from polyester. They are significantly inferior in quality to European products and do not differ in particular durability, however, due to lowprices are in high demand. This budget-friendly version of the balloons is featured in most entertainment establishments around the world, excluding only the most expensive ones.

Playing billiards is one of the ancient entertainments that has survived to this day. Playing equipment has undergone significant changes, becoming more durable, perfect and safe, so that ivory is no longer required in this sport.