CUTTING A BILLIARD BALL.

Manawatu Times, Volume XLVI, Issue 2645, 14 May 1923, Page 7

CUTTING A BILLIARD BALL.

BY AN IVORY WORKER. The making of a set of good ivory balls requires the joint labour of half a dozen experts. First, microscopic inspections of the material must* be made. To be in condition a billiard ball must be alive For this reason only the ivory containing millions of minute cells, each filled with gelatinous matter, is suitable. After the ivory is cut info blocks time is allowed for the material to shrink. The chunks now pass to- expert tracers, who work out the exact standard measurements of circumference. In “ facing ” the balls they are put in a lathe and turned with such precision that a woman’s hair placed on any one part readily throws the spherical object out of truth. At this stage the balls are seasoned and hardened by placing them in a dark, dry chamber for a period of from six months to two years. THT POLISHING PROOFS. Now comes the polishing process. This consists of rubbing the balls with whitening, pumice and methylated spirits. As a test of smoothness each ball is rolled over the operator’s cheekbone every few seconds. Throughout the -whole process of manufacture billiard balls must be protected from sudden changes of temperature, sunrays and currents of air, or they crack. In colouring the ba/lls they are first thoroughly cleansed and then dipped in a solution of nitromuriate of tin. Tills forms a mordant to fix the colours later to be applied. Red tints are given by immersing the ivory in baths of cochineal, Brazil -wood or lac dye. Black tones are imparted by dipping the ivoi-y for a few hours in a neutral solution of nitrate of silver, allowing access of light.