Craftsmanship

Press, 21 November 1979, Page 11

Craftsmanship

The warmth and elegance of a gentleman's club are re-created in the new showroom of Drake Industries, Ltd. the manufacturers of billiard tables, in Peterborough Street. Lea d-light windows, dark-stained wood, an

open fire-place and a feature wall combine to make a perfect setting for the hand-crafted tables on display. Mr Ken Drake is a craftsman in the good oldfashioned sense, sparing nothing in time or materials in the manufacture of his own designs. His business started as a parttime interest, but the demand for his tables was so strong that it rapidly expanded to a fullptime job.

The company imports components for the tables from all over the world. Slate lops come from Italy, billiard cloth from

England, balls from Belgium and Taiwan, and j cues from Britain and Ca- I nada. Native New Zealand ; timbers are used to make the bases of the tables. I with beech and rimu tak- ' ing over from the original imported timbers. A large . variety of cloths is avail- j able to suit, different styles and prices of table, and the firm stocks a wide selection of cues, balls and accessories. Drake Industries sells direct to the public from its factory as well as supplying retailers all over the South Island with its range of exclusive designs.