The date of the creation of billiards, as well as the name of its inventor, is unknown to historians. The first proof of the existence of such a game dates back to the 15th century: French researchers discovered a table similar to a billiard table, built around 1470 and dating back to the era of Louis 11. Of what billiard balls were made of that time, history is silent, but some data allow us to speculate.
A bit of history
In the 17th century, the game of billiards spread widely in Europe and became available to all segments of the population. During this period, tables for billiards began to be set up in public entertainment institutions at various levels, so even the poor could play billiards. For the manufacture of tables, durable wooden boards were used, covered with dense fabric, and the inside of the sides were lined with felt.
Unfortunately, it is not known what billiard balls are made of for cheap pubs, but expensive accessories were made from ivory. Moreover, only females tusks were used, as for elephants the capillaries are located exactly in the center of the tusk, and for males they are shifted to the side. In the first case, the billiard ball turned out to be perfectly balanced, and in the second - it had different density and weight in some parts, so it could deviate from the desired trajectory.
From one pair of elephant tusks, only 4-5 balls were obtained, so for a complete set it was necessary to kill or maim 3-4 individuals. Indian elephants are larger than African, so they were much more expensive. Due to the high cost and complexity of material extraction, the owners of the gaming tables were constantly looking for alternatives. So, the teeth and bones of large wild animals, marine inhabitants were used, other natural materials were used, but none of them could provide the necessary level of comfort. All players, except for the nobility and representatives of high society, were forced to use low-quality shells, which negatively affected the quality of the game.
The invention of celluloid
Ivory was used to make billiard balls until the end of the 19th century. John Hyatt, an American chemist, engineer, entrepreneur and inventor, in 1869 patented a revolutionary new material - celluloid. What did the new generation of billiard balls make of ? It is from this material. However, disturbing rumors spread among the population, which were then partially confirmed. The first celluloid turned out to be combustible, balls made from it, in some cases, self-ignite and explode. After unsuccessful attempts to correct the feedstock, John Hyatt refused further development and completely curtailed production.
The invention of Bakelite
In 1912, another talented American, Leo Bakeland, managed to create new material that forever changed the way billiard balls are made. The new high-strength plastic turned out to be easy to process, it didn’t catch fire and was relatively cheap. However, in the 30s, the material was improved.
What are billiard balls made of today
For the production of gaming accessories, a special composite material based on phenol-formaldehyde resin is used. Approximately 80% of all billiard balls in the world are produced by a Belgian company under the brand name Aramith. Information about what billiard balls are made of and the secrets of creation are not a secret. The best accessories for professional use are made from phenol-aldehyde resin and are a perfectly cast ball of perfectly rounded shape. Due to their uniform density, balls are often used to make various crafts. There are no options for what can be made of a billiard ball: bracelets, earrings, beads, pendants, all kinds of figurines.
Cheaper versions of balls for amateur games are made in China and Taiwan from polyester. They are significantly inferior in quality to European products and are not particularly durable, but due to their low cost they are in great demand. This budget version of the balls is presented in most entertainment venues around the world, excluding only the most expensive ones.
The game of billiards is one of the oldest entertainments that has survived to this day. Game accessories have undergone significant changes, have become more durable, perfect and safe, so the ivory is no longer required in this sport.