It’s only natural to wonder whether pool balls are still made from ivory, as highly skilled ivory turners have finely crafted ivory pool balls for centuries. However, they were costly and far less durable than their hardy modern counterparts.
Pool balls are not still made from ivory. Imported Asian elephant trunks were used to craft expensive pool balls. However, when they were near extinction, ivory was replaced with flammable nitrocellulose, then Bakelite. Modern pool balls are manufactured with phenolic or polyester resins.
Fortunately, pool balls are no longer produced from ivory. However, there is so much more to learn about their colorful past and present. So, if you want to know why it takes up to 23 days to produce a quality pool ball that will last a lifetime – read on!
Why Pool Balls Are No Longer Made From Ivory
Ivory pool or billiard balls, as they were commonly known back then, were preferred by nobility like the Duke of Norfolk since 1588 as it was a sign of enormous wealth and was widely used from 1627.
The ivory pool balls were mainly produced from Indo-Chinese, Indian, and Ceylonese Asian elephant tusks by skilled craftsmen called “ivory turners” in New York and Chicago.
The ivory turners would need to leave the newly carved ivory pool balls to cure for nearly two years before they could sell them for eye-watering amounts.
These ivory pool balls were far more superior and robust than those crafted from wood in terms of their beauty and size and could cost roughly $60 for a small set in the 1870s (more than $1,200 today).
However, due to ivory’s popularity to mass produce piano keys, combs, and other items, Asian elephants were hunted on mass and became a threatened species during the late 19th century.
Ivory pool balls also tended to crack with excessive force or in humid conditions and yellow over time. Thus, an alternative material was desperately needed.
So, Phelan and Collender, a pool table manufacturer, offered a $10,000 reward to anyone who could produce a pool ball that was not made from ivory or wood. Although, it is still being determined whether the prize money was ever awarded.
Inventor John Wesly Hyatt should be credited for producing the first pool ball with synthetic plastic. However, his celluloid (nitrocellulose) pool or billiard balls were not durable and downright dangerous!
Celluloid balls, or “guncotton” as they were commonly known, were also incredibly volatile, and there are many written accounts about exploding celluloid balls during the manufacturing process.
So, it is no wonder that silent films manufactured with highly flammable celluloid or nitrocellulose materials burnt a few movie theatres down!
Fortunately, Phelan Leo Baekeland stepped up to the plate to create a more durable (and safe) Bakelite plastic material in 1907, which is still in use today.
By the 1920s, most pool balls were produced from Bakelite materials, and even wealthy players started replacing their old yellowing ivory pool balls with synthetic ones.
When Did Manufacturers Stop Using Ivory For Pool Balls?
Even though Bakelite plastic was widely in use, ivory pool balls were still in demand well into the 1970s as the upper crust of society preferred traditional materials.
In fact, A.E. Schmidt manufactured ivory pool balls until 1975 when they were forced to stop doing so, as ivory pool balls were not as durable as those produced from synthetic materials.
What Are Pool Balls Made Of Today?
Due to scientific and technological advancements, pool balls can be crafted to exacting standards. They are mainly produced from acrylic, phenolic, or polyester resins that vary in durability and lifespan.
Modern-day pool balls are predominantly crafted from phenolic resins or plastic thermosetting materials, which are heated and poured into molds.
Once the cast pool balls have hardened, they are polished, sanded, and weighed. Because they vary in weight and density, the pool balls are hand selected to create sets.
Quality pool balls can withstand a force of roughly 5 tons before it disintegrates, and the friction of rolling over the pool tablecloth can generate a heat of nearly 482°F.
Roughly 85% of the most durable pool balls globally are manufactured in Belgium by Saluc.
Founded in 1923, Saluc is the only company in the world to use phenolic resin to produce the premier Brunswick Centennial and Aramith ball brands.
Saluc’s highly durable pool balls are highly coveted as they can be used at home for nearly 40 years and withstand up to 400 000 collisions in their lifetimes. So, it’s no wonder that Saluc can take up to 23 days to produce a pool ball that is robust enough to last.
Thus, Brunswick Centennial pool balls are predominantly used in professional pool competitions across the globe.
In stark contrast, pool balls manufactured with more affordable polyester resins only last about eight years and can only withstand 80,000 collisions with other balls.
However, pool balls manufactured with polyester resins are less robust and lose their shine with wear and tear.
Affordable polyester resin pool balls are great for beginners who want to purchase their first set before upgrading to more durable phenolic resin balls at a later stage.
How Do I Know If My Pool Balls Are Made Of Genuine Ivory?
Most ivory pool balls are out of circulation these days, apart from the Smithsonian’s 1925 version and some ancient dusty pool halls.
Although, if you happen to stumble on an old pool ball, the quickest way to find out whether it is made from ivory or not is with the following tell-tale signs:
- First, the uneven off-white coloring is either brownish or yellow.
- Black or dark-greyish veins.
- Presence of engraved numbers.
- The ball is not sphere shaped.
Conclusion
Luckily pool balls are no longer made from ivory sourced from Asian elephant tusks, which were expensive and not durable. So, when Asian elephants became a threatened species, pool balls were manufactured with synthetic materials like durable phenolic resins (like Bakelite) and affordable polyester resins.
