The Quality And Craftsmanship Of Chicago Pool Tables

By Author: vikram kuamr
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For literally centuries, the quality and craftsmanship that has gone into Chicago pool tables has been legendary. In a sport made popular through films and novels, you can find no better pool table on the market today than a Chicago pool table.

It all started in 1845, when John Moses Brunswick brought his version of the British billiards table to North America. Known for using only the best wood available in the region for the construction of Chicago pool tables, the J. M. Brunswick name became legendary for precision, quality, and reliability in the manufacture of the sought-after Chicago pool table.

The popularity of the sport grew during the mid-1900s, when detective novels and movies of social rebellion became the fodder for many a young man's dream of making a name for himself by playing pool. Legends in the sport, like Fast Eddie and Minnesota Fats got their start hustling games in many a Chicago pool table hall. From the 1950s through the 1970s, the nationally televised tournaments using Chicago pool tables had only one rival for ratings: Brunswick bowling tournaments from Wisconsin.

Over the years, ...
... only one company has come to rival Brunswick for their quality manufacture of Chicago pool tables. In 1972, brothers Butch and Don Olhausen started their own company in San Diego, California. Their early versions that came close to the quality in a Chicago pool table featured quality wood and were defined by their use of special cloth imported from England. The Olhausen brothers were the first manufacturers to use 100% gum rubber cushions, a development that changed the way pool competitions were fought. It would take Brunswick nearly thirty years to give up on tradition and add the gum rubber cushions to their own tables.

Olhausen tables gained popularity throughout the country soon after their founding, especially since Brunswick had begun to diversify their production lines to include golf clubs and bowling equipment. Even still, the quality of both manufacturers kept their table lines so popular that they are still consumers first choice when shopping for tables into the next millennium.

Brunswick's competition grade tables have many popular models among today's pool playing consumers. The Centurion, Gold Crown V and the Metro are among the most popular items in Brunswick's product line, and are ideal for heavy use. The sturdy designs evidenced by the care the company still shows in their production, and assures customers the world over that they are worth the sometimes hefty price tags that come with them.

Olhausen eventually moved its production facility a little closer to the action, from San Diego, California to Portland, Tennessee. The family owned company is still pleasing consumers everywhere, and they average around 30,000 tables sold every year. Their most popular models include the Signature and Portland series that are most definitely on a par with the legendary Brunswick lines. Both companies also offered affordable custom lines like the Traditional and Transitional tables found in pool halls across the country and the world today.

Whether you are a professional player or an amateur just out for fun, you cannot go wrong with tables from either Brunswick or Olhausen. The quality of these tables has thrilled generations of players, and holds promise of more to come.

Author Bio.

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