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The August Jungblut Eureka c. 1875
The BBC Nonpareil c. 1880
The BBC Monarch c. 1884
The Jacob Strahle Regency c. 1885
The BBC Brilliant Novelty c. 1885
The August Jungblut Rococo c. 1885
The Jacob Strahle Eastlake c. 1889

Billiard tables manufactured during the reign of England’s Queen Victoria are generally considered Victorian--although this is a very broad mix of styles sometimes mixing Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, Eastlake and Queen Anne.

Ornamentation of these tables is normally floral and/or geometric inlays of contrasting wood veneers. However, some tables reflect more simple use of veneered raised panels or plaques and light spoon-carving prominent with Eastlake and Renaissance Revival designs.

San Francisco manufacturers Jacob Strahle and August Jungblut leaned towards carved cabriole legs as their first choice; whereas, east coast manufactures chose octagon, or four-sided curved and round turned legs. Nearing the end of this period, some legs were cast in iron to resemble lions, devils, horses, dragons, elephants and maidenheads.

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COLONIAL REVIVAL / AMERICANA 1890-1925

The BBC Cambridge c. 1890
The BBC Union League c. 1890
The J.E. Came Narragansett c. 1895
The Sanford-Bell & Lahm c. 1900
The BBC York c. 1904
The BBC Southern c. 1904
The BBC Newport Octagonal c. 1904
The BBC Newport c. 1904
The August Jungblut Lombard c. 1904

As America celebrated its first centennial, a patriotic fever prompted a revival of American Colonial reproduction furniture. Billiard manufactures began producing simpler designs with less ornamentation, veneered in mostly quarter-sawn Oak and some with Mahogany and Ash. The favorite leg styles were round, sometimes fluted or reeded, as well as square and octagon.

Most of these tables combined elements from more than one style or motif.
Victorian designs were often recycled using only Oak and simple moldings in place of the inlayed marquetry of high Victorian designs.

The bridge between Victorian and Colonial Revival was often referred to as Americana or Golden Oak; although the same trends were taking hold abroad.

There is, however, a parting in the purity of these designs that were applied to billiard tables, because of the heavy weight of the slate beds, the legs and frames were normally heavier than their furniture prototypes.

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MISSION / ARTS AND CRAFTS 1890-1915

The Chas. Passow Old Mission c. 1904
The BBC Ramada c. 1904
The BBC St. Bernard Mission c. 1906
The BBC Carmel c. 1908
The Buckeye Mission c. 1910

The Mission style evolved from the Arts and Crafts styles as they came from Europe and England around 1900. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie school of architecture, as well as Green and Green’s California Bungalows, influenced furniture makers to build simple designs with little or no ornamentation, straight forward construction and function.

The most recognized Mission style furniture manufacture was Gustav Stickley. He preferred to call his designs Craftsman and worked mostly in quarter-sawn Oak. Though the style was very popular, it peaked before 1915.

Most of the billiard manufactures borrowed from the California Missions for inspiration utilizing the large arches and overhangs supported by beams that were reminiscent of rectangular corbels. The finishes were more rustic. Ebonizing was popular along with Burnt Umber and Sienna stains made by rusting nails and iron in water.

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ART DECO 1910-1925

The BBC Marquette c. 1910
The BBC Alexandria c. 1910
The BBC Hudson c. 1911
The BBC Kling c. 1916
The BBC Grand c. 1918
The BBC Arcade c. 1923
The BBC Elmo c. 1925

Notice the bridge between the Arts and Craft designs and these early Art Deco models. The term, "Art Deco" had not been coined when the Alexandria, Hudson, Kling and Arcade models were introduced, but the following description from the Brunswick-Blake-Collender 1914 and 1923 catalogs says it all.

"This magnificent design marks a new era in the highest class of billiard table construction and ornamentation. It carries a suggestion of the classic Greek and ancient Egyptian, touching a period when the Oriental splendor bid fair to outrival the more classic tones and studied effects characterizing the era when Athens claimed the right to school the world in literature and art. The severely plain in furniture is now giving way to the lighter and more artistic coloring effects of inlaid decorations."

Jumbo construction was offered in 4’ x 8’; 4-1/2’ x 9’; 5’ x 10’ and 6’x 12’ sizes in carom, snooker, pool or combination carom and pool configurations. A six-leg option and 1-1/2" thick slate were also available.

The standard veneer on the Alexandria was Circausian Walnut. The Hudson and Kling were offered in book matched Walnut butts and African Mahogany, however, a few were built in Oak. The Arcade was generally built in Mahogany. The inlay strips were White and Black Holly with the rest of the inlay being Mother-of-Pearl.

Always favorites with collectors and players, these tables were among the very finest ever built. A better example of construction techniques cannot be found.

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ART DECO 1926-1939

The BBC Royal c. 1926
The BBC Medalist c. 1926
The BBC Conqueror c. 1926
The BBC Regent c. 1926
The BBC Olympic Club c. 1927
The BBC Paragon c. 1928

By 1920, Art Deco was stretching past its second decade of influence and furniture manufactures were looking to new materials as a primary departure from their first generation of Art Deco designs.

Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. (BBC) began using great amounts of inlay (wood marquetry), in the mid twenties. Departing from the simple square and rectangular inlays in the Alexandria and Kling models, their designers used larger geometric designs in very contrasting colors and grains. The Royal, Medalist, Conqueror and Paragon models appeared with convex rather than concave shaped legs and the fore mentioned marquetry. BBC’s first Art Deco styled tables met great success and their Jumbo and Semi Jumbo construction techniques were state of the art.

The standard veneer on the Royal was figured Mahogany with Satinwood inlay and varied types of marquetry lines. The Medalist and Conqueror were offered in book matched Walnut butts, while the Paragon used both fancy Walnut butts and figured Mahogany.

Specialty tables were also available. The Olympic Club of San Francisco ordered the popular Regent table from BBC, customized with Black Walnut veneer and their flying "O" logo instead of the Regent’s normal inlay.

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ART DECO / MODERNE 1930-1960

The BBC Paramount c. 1933
The BBC 20th Century c. 1939
The BBC Centennial c. 1945
The BBC Anniversary c. 1945

Beginning in 1930, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.'s (BBC) Art Deco designs started taking on a very different look and construction. The Great Depression was taking a toll on American manufacturing, but billiard rooms and their suppliers were doing quite well.

BBC started enclosing the leather pockets with metal shields and using a wider apron between the pockets for a more streamlined effect. Construction materials like lumber core as well as veneer core plywoods began to be standard and masonite laminates also had their first showing in billiard tables.

In 1945, BBC celebrated its one hundredth year in business and they introduced two new models--the Centennial and the Anniversary. These two models lasted a decade and a half without much change.

In 1961, the Gold Crown replaced the Centennial and Anniversary models and is still in production today.

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	PRODUCTS: *Antiques* Sequoia Billiard Supply is one of the leading suppliers and refurbishers of antique billiard tables in the Country.
		VICTORIAN 1837-1901 COLONIA REVIVAL / AMERICANA 1890-1925 ARTS AND CRAFTS / MISSION 1890-1915 ART DECO 1910-1925 ART DECO 1926-1939 ART DECO / MODERNE 1930-1960
	As the game of modern billiards enters its second centennial, historians, agree that American manufacturers of tables have had more to do with the worldwide growth of the sport than any other factor. Industrial America lead the way with ingenuity and the standardizing of function by designing cushions, pockets and beds around new materials as they became available. Billiards relies greatly on consistency. If a player makes or misses a shot, he learns from that shot. Predictability of rebound and levelness of the bed makes this possible—and makes billiards fun. As Americans became aware of this new pastime, tens of thousand of pool, billiard and snooker tables were produced by companies such as James Brunswick, Julius Balke, H. W. Collender, J.E. Came, Jacob Strahle, August Jungblut, and Chas. Passow & Sons. The cabinets of these tables copied the interior and architectural styles of the times such as Queen Anne, Victorian, Eastlake, Edwardian, Arts and Crafts, and Art Deco. The billiard table was not only a game apparatus, but a fine piece of furniture. By attrition of everyday wear, or by catastrophes of fire, earthquake and floods, very few billiard tables over sixty years old survive today. Gone are many of the materials used in the manufacturing—Brazilian Rosewood, Circassinan Walnut and Ivory. Forgotten are production techniques of refined veneering and inlaying. These old tables represent a unique part of Americana, and for you, the buyer with a reverence for antiques, they offer not only dividends on your investment (with an average appreciation of ten percent a year), but also countless hours of entertainment for yourself, your family and friends. For over thirty years, I have had the privilege to be part of the small fraternity of craftsmen who restore these great tables of the past. If you have any questions about these tables or others, please call me at my restoration facility at (650) 654-1852. Harvey Rutledge Billiard Historian Back to top of page VICTORIAN 1837-1901 The August Jungblut Eureka c. 1875 The BBC Nonpareil c. 1880 The BBC Monarch c. 1884 The Jacob Strahle Regency c. 1885 The BBC Brilliant Novelty c. 1885 The August Jungblut Rococo c. 1885 The Jacob Strahle Eastlake c. 1889 Billiard tables manufactured during the reign of England’s Queen Victoria are generally considered Victorian--although this is a very broad mix of styles sometimes mixing Rococo Revival, Renaissance Revival, Eastlake and Queen Anne. Ornamentation of these tables is normally floral and/or geometric inlays of contrasting wood veneers. However, some tables reflect more simple use of veneered raised panels or plaques and light spoon-carving prominent with Eastlake and Renaissance Revival designs. San Francisco manufacturers Jacob Strahle and August Jungblut leaned towards carved cabriole legs as their first choice; whereas, east coast manufactures chose octagon, or four-sided curved and round turned legs. Nearing the end of this period, some legs were cast in iron to resemble lions, devils, horses, dragons, elephants and maidenheads. Back to top of page COLONIAL REVIVAL / AMERICANA 1890-1925 The BBC Cambridge c. 1890 The BBC Union League c. 1890 The J.E. Came Narragansett c. 1895 The Sanford-Bell & Lahm c. 1900 The BBC York c. 1904 The BBC Southern c. 1904 The BBC Newport Octagonal c. 1904 The BBC Newport c. 1904 The August Jungblut Lombard c. 1904 As America celebrated its first centennial, a patriotic fever prompted a revival of American Colonial reproduction furniture. Billiard manufactures began producing simpler designs with less ornamentation, veneered in mostly quarter-sawn Oak and some with Mahogany and Ash. The favorite leg styles were round, sometimes fluted or reeded, as well as square and octagon. Most of these tables combined elements from more than one style or motif. Victorian designs were often recycled using only Oak and simple moldings in place of the inlayed marquetry of high Victorian designs. The bridge between Victorian and Colonial Revival was often referred to as Americana or Golden Oak; although the same trends were taking hold abroad. There is, however, a parting in the purity of these designs that were applied to billiard tables, because of the heavy weight of the slate beds, the legs and frames were normally heavier than their furniture prototypes. Back to top of page MISSION / ARTS AND CRAFTS 1890-1915 The Chas. Passow Old Mission c. 1904 The BBC Ramada c. 1904 The BBC St. Bernard Mission c. 1906 The BBC Carmel c. 1908 The Buckeye Mission c. 1910 The Mission style evolved from the Arts and Crafts styles as they came from Europe and England around 1900. Frank Lloyd Wright’s Prairie school of architecture, as well as Green and Green’s California Bungalows, influenced furniture makers to build simple designs with little or no ornamentation, straight forward construction and function. The most recognized Mission style furniture manufacture was Gustav Stickley. He preferred to call his designs Craftsman and worked mostly in quarter-sawn Oak. Though the style was very popular, it peaked before 1915. Most of the billiard manufactures borrowed from the California Missions for inspiration utilizing the large arches and overhangs supported by beams that were reminiscent of rectangular corbels. The finishes were more rustic. Ebonizing was popular along with Burnt Umber and Sienna stains made by rusting nails and iron in water. Back to top of page ART DECO 1910-1925 The BBC Marquette c. 1910 The BBC Alexandria c. 1910 The BBC Hudson c. 1911 The BBC Kling c. 1916 The BBC Grand c. 1918 The BBC Arcade c. 1923 The BBC Elmo c. 1925 Notice the bridge between the Arts and Craft designs and these early Art Deco models. The term, "Art Deco" had not been coined when the Alexandria, Hudson, Kling and Arcade models were introduced, but the following description from the Brunswick-Blake-Collender 1914 and 1923 catalogs says it all. "This magnificent design marks a new era in the highest class of billiard table construction and ornamentation. It carries a suggestion of the classic Greek and ancient Egyptian, touching a period when the Oriental splendor bid fair to outrival the more classic tones and studied effects characterizing the era when Athens claimed the right to school the world in literature and art. The severely plain in furniture is now giving way to the lighter and more artistic coloring effects of inlaid decorations." Jumbo construction was offered in 4’ x 8’; 4-1/2’ x 9’; 5’ x 10’ and 6’x 12’ sizes in carom, snooker, pool or combination carom and pool configurations. A six-leg option and 1-1/2" thick slate were also available. The standard veneer on the Alexandria was Circausian Walnut. The Hudson and Kling were offered in book matched Walnut butts and African Mahogany, however, a few were built in Oak. The Arcade was generally built in Mahogany. The inlay strips were White and Black Holly with the rest of the inlay being Mother-of-Pearl. Always favorites with collectors and players, these tables were among the very finest ever built. A better example of construction techniques cannot be found. Back to top of page ART DECO 1926-1939 The BBC Royal c. 1926 The BBC Medalist c. 1926 The BBC Conqueror c. 1926 The BBC Regent c. 1926 The BBC Olympic Club c. 1927 The BBC Paragon c. 1928 By 1920, Art Deco was stretching past its second decade of influence and furniture manufactures were looking to new materials as a primary departure from their first generation of Art Deco designs. Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. (BBC) began using great amounts of inlay (wood marquetry), in the mid twenties. Departing from the simple square and rectangular inlays in the Alexandria and Kling models, their designers used larger geometric designs in very contrasting colors and grains. The Royal, Medalist, Conqueror and Paragon models appeared with convex rather than concave shaped legs and the fore mentioned marquetry. BBC’s first Art Deco styled tables met great success and their Jumbo and Semi Jumbo construction techniques were state of the art. The standard veneer on the Royal was figured Mahogany with Satinwood inlay and varied types of marquetry lines. The Medalist and Conqueror were offered in book matched Walnut butts, while the Paragon used both fancy Walnut butts and figured Mahogany. Specialty tables were also available. The Olympic Club of San Francisco ordered the popular Regent table from BBC, customized with Black Walnut veneer and their flying "O" logo instead of the Regent’s normal inlay. Back to top of page ART DECO / MODERNE 1930-1960 The BBC Paramount c. 1933 The BBC 20th Century c. 1939 The BBC Centennial c. 1945 The BBC Anniversary c. 1945 Beginning in 1930, Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co.'s (BBC) Art Deco designs started taking on a very different look and construction. The Great Depression was taking a toll on American manufacturing, but billiard rooms and their suppliers were doing quite well. BBC started enclosing the leather pockets with metal shields and using a wider apron between the pockets for a more streamlined effect. Construction materials like lumber core as well as veneer core plywoods began to be standard and masonite laminates also had their first showing in billiard tables. In 1945, BBC celebrated its one hundredth year in business and they introduced two new models--the Centennial and the Anniversary. These two models lasted a decade and a half without much change. In 1961, the Gold Crown replaced the Centennial and Anniversary models and is still in production today. Back to top of page