BILLIARDS.

NZ Truth, Issue 116, 7 September 1907, Page 3

BILLIARDS.

HOW TABLES HAVE MADE "A FIRM.

ALCOCK. AND CO.'S BUSINESS IN NEW ZEALAAD.

THE FACTORY IN WELLINGTON

ALCOCK is a name to conjure with m the billiard-playing world, and it has been upon Alcock and Co.'s famous tables that such conjurors with the cue and ball as John Roberts, Dawson, Mannock, Memmott, Weiss, and Stevenson have done notable feats. It is not generally known, however, that Alcock's tables w-er-e famous m Australia before the world's metropolis was captured. A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY.

The record of "Alcock's" is as interesting as it is progressive. Messrs Alcock and Co. are the oldest and most extensive billiard-table makers m Australasia. The business was founded by Mr Henry Upton Alcock about fifty-four years ago, when Melbourne, the firm's place of origin, was a mere name. The founder, who is still alive, was born m Dublin m 1823. After leaving school, he engaged m cabinetmaking for seven years m his native city. London claimed him for a few years more, and m 1852 he came out to Victoria, being attracted there, like thousands of others, by the gold rush. Instead of going to Ballarat or Bendigo, Mr Alcock settled m Melbourne, on the site of the nresent headquarters factory, and established the nucleus of the vast industry he now controls. From the outset the business was conducted on the only safe lines that make for success. Every detail m the process of manufacture is closely watched, and the highest skill and best materials employed. Mathematical accuracy is the first essential, and Alcock's tables are always true and reliable. "As true as an Alcock billiard table" is a phrase that has passed into a proverb. To-day the firm has flourishing manufacturing businesses m Melbourne (which supplies the London market), m Sydney (supplying New South Wales) iv Brisbane (distributing centre for

Queensland and Western Australia), and m Wellington (which supplies the whole of New Zealand). OUR DOMINION'S INTEREST. In company with the New Zealand manager, Mr Chas. H. Matthews, a visit was paid to the newly-opened factory m York-street, off Taranakistreet, En route from the office and sports depot, m Lower Cuba-street, the manager explained that during the five years m which he had represented the firm m the Empire City, Alcock's had developed m keeping with the growth of Greater Wellington. They had been forced out of successive premises, owing to the increase of trade, and nowadays the factory was always three months behindhand with its orders. The demand is extraordinary, and even with all the assistan6e that could he rendered by the Melbourne factory, the New Zealand branch could not keep pace with orders. Those who enjoy a game, of billiards know little of the care and trouble that es expended m the manufacture of the table and" its accessories, and of the capital involved m the business. Messrs Alcock and Co- have found, by long experience, that black-wood is the best timber for billiard-table making. Nevertheless, they are always willing to undertake fresh experiments, and have done so with several kinds of New Zealand timber. The blackwood logs come from Tasmania, and the whole of. the timber is seasoned for not less than five years. Mr Matthews has just been successful m the purchase of a big supply ol timber m Tasmania, and already has a goodly stock stacked m Wellington. IN THE FACTORY. It is a two-storied brick building, having concrete on the first fl'oorj and equipped with the most modern machinery and appliances from " the very best makers. The factory has a frontage of 36ft. with a depth of 75ft.. is lighted well naturally, has electric light for an additional means of illumination, and the machinery is driven by electric motors. On the ground floor is the slate room, m which the solid' slabs from the quarries of Bangor (Wales) are planed, polished, and fitted into the tables. Four or five slates are used m each full-sized table, and it is the quality of the slate and the high polish it is subjected to that gives the wonderful sense of accuract that the Alcock tables possess. In another department on the ground floor are the circular-saw bench, with boring attachments, a surface machine, a "thicknesser," tennoning and moulding machines, and a sand-drying oven. Upstairs, Mr S. R. -Murray, who is m charge of the factory, and who is a product of the headquarters establishment, was seen at work turning billiard balls, and preparing long strips of rubber for cushions— two interesting processes. The top floor contains, besides Mr Murray's sanctum sanctorum, four turning lathes, a hand morticing machines, also band saw and circular saw, four benches for skilled workers, and a separate room for the polisher. A lift connects the two floors. Having visited the place,- where things are made, a return may now be made to general topics concerning the firm's business.

BILLIARDS FOR THE HOME. Has it ever struck you, gentle" reader, what fun it would be to have a billiard-table of your own ? You need not be so enterprising, as a gentleman from the Rangitikei, who has just purchased a lovely puriri table for which he is paying 300 guineas. But, then, puriri is a tremendously expensive wood. to work up. Nor is it necessary for you to follow the example of a successful business man m Gisborne, who has bought the handsome table that) won a srold medal at the Christchurch Exhibition. The average price for a fullsized table is 100 guineas ; and, perhaps, like the two enterprising gentlemen above referred to, you would have to build a ' house to accommodate such tables. But the firm manufactures a combination table, which can be converted from a din- ] ing-table into a billiard-table,- <md that style ranges m price from £25. j Even this -type, however, may not I suit. you. Messrs Alcock and Co. have devised a perfect minaturc table costing £10— a price well within the compass of everyone who esteems tho. game. i TA"RIFF, TERMS, AND OTHER

TOPICS. i The firm's New Zealand manager has some decided opinions regarding the new tariff. He would have liked to see the Government- put a , duty of 40 per cent, upon billiard-tables and manufactured accessories, because that would have -given the locallymanufactured table a good chance against the many people who still clung to the opinion that a billiardtable was no good unless they got it from Home. "Why," said- Mr Matthews, "there isn't a table imported that can beat the tables we are now making m Wellington. From Auckland to the Bluff, from Napier to New Plymouth you can prove that statement from our customers." .Then attention should be called to Alcock's exceedingly liberal and easy terms offered to purchasers of tables. The deferred payment system has proved successful to the firm, and helpful to the very many people who could hot otherwise' enjoy all the pleasures of the game that now the public parlor, and elsewhere. Nor are theirs m their home, the club, would the manager have it forgotten j thae his firm deals m things otli3.r than billiard-tables. Does not tha Lower Cuba-street premises bear the title "Sports Depot" ? The extensive character of the stock carried may be learned from a perusal of the catalogue, copies of which may be obtained on application. Messrs Alcock and Co. are the official bowltesters for New Zealand, and some idea of the popularity of bowling as a pastime may be gathered from ths fact that some 2000 pairs of bowls are tested annually, the firm selling from 400 to 500 .pairs yearly. Judging by the big business that the Alcock depot Is doing m tenuis supplies this game also continues on the upgrade. The "Mass," a French racciuet, is expected to come more and more into use on the colony's courts. Balls for polo are manufac- 1 tured m Wellington by this enterprises firm ; golfists can be supplied with all requirements ; and players of hockey— would you "believe there are 1700 players m Wellington? —croquet, and badminton will also find a fine selection of things necessary for thair favorite pastime m I Alcock's»