The pool table installers come this morning! The culmination of maybe seven months of work and, um, worry. A long-awaited day. They're due within the hour. I'm excited.
Updates and a picture later.
Mike
UPDATE 5:00 p.m.:
After more than five months, many tradesmen, and a medium-sized bucket of money, the first ball down was a five in the side. We are cookin' with gas!
Ed and Spencer Watlack of Watlack's Billiard Service in Rochester New York, second- and third-generation pool table mechanics respectively, arrived at about 10:15 this morning. It took them about two and a half hours to get me up and running.
The most expensive thing I ever bought in my life was my son's college education. That was well worth it. My son graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Oshkosh in four years with an excellent GPA and $0.00 in student loans, and I'm very proud of that.
But even though it's not the most expensive thing, what you're looking at in this picture is the greatest extravagance of my life. Wholly, completely unnecessary! And I'm pleased as punch. Now I can get to grips with learning the game.
The table is a Brunswick Gold Crown I. It's nearly as old as I am. It was built in Chicago (I believe), probably in the mid- to late 1960s. At some point in the past, the legs and skirts were stripped of their original paint and stained, and the sub-skirts were removed.
Did you spot the Attention Hound in the upper photo?
—Mike
Original contents copyright 2020 by Michael C. Johnston and/or the bylined author. All Rights Reserved. Links in this post may be to our affiliates; sales through affiliate links may benefit this site. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Book of interest this week:
Picture This: How Pictures Work, By Molly Bang
(clicking on the link above takes you to Amazon from TOP)
(To see all the comments, click on the "Comments" link below.)
Featured Comments from:
Robert: "Congratulations, enjoy! I played with the idea couple of years ago, but there is no room big enough in my house and I cannot buy additional real estate—everything is already occupated. Even if it was free to have, over here you pay nearly USD 2,000 per square meter...my Hassy will have to do as a sin which makes one happy."
Mike replies: I understand. I considered every possibility in my existing house and barn, and there was simply not enough room anywhere, no matter what I repurposed. But I do have lots of free land, and I even had the leveled gravel pad next to the garage—the previous owner had used it as a parking space for his utility tractor. I had considered building a stick-built freestanding building on a concrete slab, but the cost was too high. It wasn't until I visited my friend Mike's pool-table-in-a-shed, and at the same time my financial advisor told me that I needed to borrow some money to improve my credit rating (I've had no debt other than my mortgage for a number of years) that the idea gelled.
But if you don't have room, you just don't have room.
Noting the sunlight on the far end - some sort of blinds for the windows next? (It never ends!)
Posted by: Dave Stewart | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 05:14 PM
WOW!
Posted by: Grant | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 05:15 PM
You can feel the happiness radiating from this post Mike - making me smile. Enjoy! You deserve it.
Posted by: Patrick Dodds | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 05:32 PM
Looks wonderful, Mike. Congratulations! May it bring you endless hours of enjoyment and, one day soon, host many hours of friendship and competition!
Posted by: Kenneth Tanaka | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 05:38 PM
Enjoy!!!
Posted by: Frank Gorga | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 05:58 PM
I think it is wonderful. We all deserve an occasional splurge, especially now when other entertainment options are limited. There are lots of studies that show that immersing yourself in an activity you love that is different from your main occupation is very good for you and enhances the other parts of your life as well.
I'm very happy for you. Pool is one of those things that can be enjoyed alone or with friends about equally. Great Choice.
PS you might want to mount a goPro above just in case you make the shot of a lifetime with no witnesses......It might also help to analyze your technique.
Posted by: Michael J. Perini | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 06:08 PM
This might also be germane:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6-oHBkikDBg&list=RDvkLOg252KRE&index=15&ab_channel=TheWarOnDrugs
Posted by: Patrick Dodds | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 06:24 PM
It does look nice, but I hope you don't get lost there, and forget to write.
Posted by: MikeR | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 06:54 PM
"After more than five months, many tradesmen, and a medium-sized bucket of money..."
And some people say that building a darkroom is time consuming and expensive...
Posted by: Helcio J. Tagliolatto | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 07:23 PM
Congrats; you can work on your masse shot!
Posted by: schralp | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 07:37 PM
Bravo! Looks great. And also a pleasure to see your portrait of Sally Mann selected for photographersphotographed on IG today.
Posted by: Greg Heins | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 07:53 PM
How does it play? How do you feel about giving up the Golden West for this one? And finally, have you been able to sell the Golden West?
Posted by: Jim Freeman | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 08:07 PM
May it give you great pleasure for a long time! (By the way, your ceiling looks terrific. Well done.)
Posted by: Rob de Loe | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 08:07 PM
Very nice. Now find people to play with! Practice lags. And yes, the furry blur is always there.
Posted by: Malcolm Leader | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 08:13 PM
Looks great. Congrats!
Posted by: Mike | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 08:49 PM
Are you worried about U.V light from the windows fading or perishing the felt? down the centre?
Posted by: Kye Wood | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 09:47 PM
Congrats, Mike! Nice to see. A lot of planning and coordination and it looks great.
Posted by: Xf Mj | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 10:01 PM
Congratulations Mike. Enjoy.
Posted by: Dave Karp | Monday, 11 January 2021 at 10:20 PM
I'm happy for you, Mike - you've earned this! Your new (to you) table looks great - much like the ones I used to play on back in the day - and so does the shed/pool parlor/future gallery. Well done! :-)
Cheers,
Dan
Posted by: Dan Gorman | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 04:37 AM
So happy for you Mike. Enjoy the table.
Posted by: David Lee | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 05:42 AM
Congratulations! Will the sunlight cause any fading or other issues? I have a very multi-toned carpet inside a double glazed south facing door. UV filters aren't just for lenses, it seems.
Posted by: Ger Lawlor | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 05:43 AM
Are those feet adjustable to compensate for any minor settling without major work? They look as though they would be.
[Yes. --Mike]
Posted by: Richard Parkin | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 06:06 AM
Congratulations. An exceptionally good looking room and table. Enjoy!
Posted by: Michael Matthews | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 06:41 AM
Mike, I went searching for the image of your previous pool table to compare and discovered this nugget: <https://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2013/10/open-mike-off-topic-sort-of.html>. Nice essay. So in the end, you've essentially gotten your previous pool table back in spirit. I find the design of both tables' feet appealing. Besides the trim behind the pockets being made of metal instead of wood, what else is different between your new and old pool tables? Is one considered more high-end than the other? I would like to see a picture posted of your pool room taken at night with only the light of the overhead luminaire.
Posted by: jp41 | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 06:58 AM
Congratulations! Let the games commence!
Posted by: JOHN B GILLOOLY | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 08:47 AM
I disagree Mike. Based o your blogging, I'd say its not an extravagance but a necessity. It gets you moving and exercising, it will bring you lasting enjoyment. These are things that will both bring you good health. Enjoy it, you deserve it.
Posted by: Nigli | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 09:15 AM
Enjoy the table and the shed! That looks exactly like the table at my home town bowling alley in Elk Grove, Illinois. Early 60's Chicago - probably the same origin. When I moved to Wisconsin 40 years ago I was surprised that the bowling centers here do not offer pool - the only place to play is in bars. Sorry to say that I have not engaged in either sport since the early 80's. Keep up the O.T. posts - I enjoy reading them.
Posted by: Rich Jacobson | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 09:17 AM
Lovely, just lovely.
Posted by: SteveW | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 10:23 AM
Looks great! I am jealous! I grew up with an antique table in our basement and spent many hours with friends shooting pool. One word of advice is to get some UV film on those windows to protect the cloth. Enjoy!
Posted by: Ed Kirkpatrick | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 10:25 AM
Congratulations, Mike!!! Looks incredible.
Posted by: Jim Kofron | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 10:27 AM
That has turned out beautifully ! Enjoy. I do believe you will need a small fridge in there for summer refreshments.
Posted by: JoeB | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 10:46 AM
Congratulations Mike! A pretty room, and nice looking table! Enjoy!!
Love the previous comments, especially “don’t forget to write”. Lol!
Fred
Posted by: Fred Haynes | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 10:48 AM
Wow, that is beautiful. Love the light fixture. Now you need a jukebox.
Posted by: Dan | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 11:43 AM
Very nice. Have fun! so does this mean no TOP updates for a couple of weeks? :)
Posted by: mike r in colorado | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 12:21 PM
A w e s o m e !
Posted by: Michael | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 12:51 PM
So college is more expensive than a house in the US?
[I don't own my house...I have equity in it and the bank owns the rest. I pay them a mortgage. --Mike]
Posted by: ChrisC | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 02:54 PM
Congratulations!
I would stop by the House of Billiard three time a week after work. Pandemic has put a stop to that for now. It is best therapy money can buy.
Posted by: Shawn H | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 05:07 PM
That is a handsome and, no doubt, extremely heavy piece; congratulations. I did read somewhere (on this site, probably) about the huge benefits to neck health by playing pool to counteract the negative effects of using a computer device for hours daily. It's an idea I like, but am yet to have the chance (or extreme need) to try out.
Posted by: Melanie | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 08:35 PM
Woohoo! Looks fantastic! I hope you enjoy it for a long time, and often.
Posted by: robert e | Tuesday, 12 January 2021 at 09:11 PM
I know there was some discussion about how to treat the ceiling. You made a great choice, especially the color. Very appropriate for the space. Enjoy your new room.
Posted by: bob Cook | Wednesday, 13 January 2021 at 12:33 PM
Makes my Leica Q2 Mono on/off dream look quite a modest one.
It also illustrates different psychologies: I could never spend money that way unless I did have a huge "bucket" of spare money to spend. On the other hand, your spending should only add to the value of the house; my dream, like a boat, would be a sinking asset from the moment it arrived.
All that said, the end product looks amazing: I wish you many happy years using it, and don't forget its secondary, photo-display function... :-)
Rob
Posted by: Rob Campbell | Wednesday, 13 January 2021 at 01:11 PM
My 1st thought after seeing that table, "I pumped a lot of quarters into one of those when I was a kid".
Great project!
Posted by: Mike Cawley | Wednesday, 13 January 2021 at 03:46 PM
Looks fabulous. Wish I could help you out with your interior trim, but you're not exactly "around the corner" from me, here in VA.
Ignore the pool haters. More O.T. pix please.
Posted by: Kent Wiley | Wednesday, 13 January 2021 at 08:10 PM
I would be so torn! A choice of studio space + darkroom or sports room with snooker table + table tennis table.
My best wishes to you Mike for good relaxation and exercise.
Posted by: Olybacker | Thursday, 14 January 2021 at 11:54 AM
I’m so glad you’ve done this and the project is finished! I don’t play pool, so no worries about me begging to come join you! 😂 I have attempted to play in the past, but wasn’t very good. That’s one occasion when I knew when to quit.
Have fun!
Posted by: Earl Dunbar | Thursday, 14 January 2021 at 02:56 PM