History of Billiard Balls
The history of billiard balls shows the number of balls used increased as manufacturing processes improved.
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Early Billiard Balls
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When the game of billiard balls emerged as a promising parlor game, two balls were shoved, not struck, by a "mace." The mace was a stick with a large awkward head for shoving the balls into one of six pockets.
Ivory Billiard Balls
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At first, billiard balls were made of ivory, which resulted in the death of elephants for their tusks. The blood vessel in the center of the tusk became the center of the ball during manufacturing. The blood vessel looked like a black dot, and this was used as the center point to pin the ball so it turned perfectly as it was being made.
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Manufactured Billiard Balls
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As the Industrial Revolution emerged, billiard balls began to be improved by chemicals. In l866, John Wesley Hyatt invented celluloid. As a film, it made the balls tougher, but it made the balls shatter more easily when struck. Manufacturers found if they added camphor from a laurel tree, the celluloid became thermoplastic, easily shaped under heat and pressure, and shatterproof.
Number of Balls
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At first, only two balls were used on a six-pocket table, but as improvements in manufacturing continued, the number of balls increased. In Britain from around 1770 until the l920s, three balls were used. Four balls were popular in America in the l870s. More balls were added over the years as it became cheaper to produce them.
Billiard Balls Today
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Today, the most popular ball is made with phenolic resin, a chemical compound. This method resulted in stronger balls. Because of manufacturing improvements, their colors are brighter and the numbers can be seen more clearly.
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