Were cue balls ever made of ivory?

For a long time, the elephant ivory was the material of choice for pool balls. Unfortunately, mass markets in many parts of the world, including the western countries, used too much of the material. Ivories were not only utilised for pool balls but also commercial trinkets, combs, and piano keys as mentioned above.

What were cue balls originally made out of?

There was a time when taking a perfect shot in a game of billiards could cause the ball to explode. That's because the balls were made of celluloid, an early plastic that was, unfortunately, combustible. It was patented on this day in 1869, just a few years after the first human-made plastic, Parkesine.

What were billiard balls originally made of ivory?

The best billiard balls once came exclusively from the tusks of Asian elephants. No natural material other than elephant ivory had the physical size, strength, and beauty to perform in the billiard room and the concert hall.

Did snooker balls used to be made of ivory?

Back then, the balls were most likely made from ivory – in the past they had been made from wood or clay – but ivory would yellow with age and eventually crack under pressure.

When did they stop making ivory pool balls?

Ivory pool balls were made from the 17th century, although there were still ivories in 1875 until 1920.

150 years ago, pool balls used to explode!!

What replaced ivory for billiard balls?

Throughout billiards' history, people have made pool balls from different substances, such as wood and ivory. However, billiard balls are made today from phenolic resin, polyester resin, and epoxy resin. Each one, at its time of use, proved somewhat superior to its predecessor, although they could have been better.

How can you tell if a cue ball is ivory?

An ivory cue ball will not look like your typical cue ball made of acrylic. It may be discolored with dark lines or cracks snaking through it. When an ivory cue ball is pricked with a hot pin, it will not melt and will smell like burning hair.

What were pool balls made of in the 1800s?

By the mid-19th century, elephants were being slaughtered for their ivory at an alarming rate, just to keep up with the demand for high-end billiard balls – no more than eight balls could be made from a single elephant's tusks.

Why did they change the color of pool balls?

Anticipating the need to better discern the balls on small screen devices, we developed a light purple to replace orange and a lighter green to replace the darker one, only in the new Aramith Tournament BLACK set.

What are the best cue balls made of?

Today billiard balls are made from a combination of resin and plastic. This material is moldable and uniformly dense, perfect for high quality billiard balls that offer top quality play. The best balls are made in Belgium by Saluc and are made of phenolic resin.

Do pool balls go bad?

Nevertheless, balls sometimes need replacing after considerable use. This is more common among sets made from polyester and acrylic. Aramith balls, manufactured from phenolic resin, are said to last five times longer than other balls. Interestingly, cheaper balls threaten the longevity of the billiard cloth.

Why do cue balls turn yellow?

Most billiard balls are made of hard plastic materials that are resistant to cracking and chipping. As sometimes happens with plastics, over time exposure to UV light, combined with exposure to heat and oxygen, can cause a process called photodegradation through photooxidation.

What are the original pool ball colors?

These colored balls can vary, but they are typically yellow, blue, pink, green, brown, and black. The cue ball, as always, is white. So, that is everything you need to know about the solids and stripes in the pool and the balls used in other similar games.

Should I polish my pool balls?

Once you've cleaned your billiard balls using soap and warm water, you'll likely want to polish them. There are a number of products on the market designed specifically for polishing pool balls. Shiny pool balls make your playing experience all the more enjoyable.

What color is the number 1 pool ball?

The choices for the ball colors were not just random. Yellow (1 and 9), blue (2 and 10) and red (3 and 11) are primary colors, indicated by the large-size circles in the diagram.

Do ivory pool balls turn yellow?

Ivory pool balls were also prone to yellowing with age and tended to crack in humid climates or if struck with excessive force. On average, a tusk would only yield up to 5 balls. Sometimes a shipment of 50 tusks would only have as few as 1 tusk that was suitable for making billiard balls.

What is the oldest ball made of?

The oldest known ball in the world is a toy made of linen rags and string that was found in an Egyptian child's tomb dating to about 2500 B.C. In highland Mesoamerica, evidence shows that ball games were played starting at least as far back as 1650 B.C., based on the finding of a monumental ball court, though the ...

Is it illegal to sell ivory pool balls?

The sale of most ivory items is now prohibited in the United States by law. If you have inherited pieces of jewelry or luxury goods made with ivory or ivory components, you can donate them to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS).

Does real ivory turn yellow?

Ivory and bone may develop an attractive brownish yellow "patina" over the years. This is the result of a natural aging process and, as there is rarely any aesthetic reason for trying to whiten the artifact, no attempt should be made to remove this patina.

Does ivory crack with age?

Like wood, ivory is prone to cracking along its natural grain, which is created during ivory formation and growth on the elephant. Ivory naturally darkens or develops a “patina” as it ages.

What is the most pool balls made off break?

The most pool balls potted off the break is 6 and was achieved by Zahidul Islam (USA) in Richardson, Texas, USA, on 17 Ocotober 2022. Zahidul, an experienced pool player, wanted to attempt this Guinness World Records title to show the skills he has honed after years of practice.

What is the best thing to polish pool balls?

Use a mild dish detergent, like Dawn or Palmolive, mixed with lukewarm water. You never want to use hot water, as this can damage the balls. You can use cool or cold water, but the balls may not come as clean, as the lukewarm water helps loosen stuck-on food and grime.

What is the blue chalk for in billiards?

The chalk color should always match the felt color. Blue is recommended in most tournaments as it allows the referee and players to see marks on the cue ball. The marks can be cleaned off easily.

How do I know if my pool balls are Aramith?

So beware of imitations and check for the Aramith logo and/or the Aramith name on the box to be sure you've got a genuine Aramith phenolic ball set.