Grand Opening:Peters Billiards Antique Pool Table Showroom

Last week Peters Billiards held the grand opening of our private showroom for restored Antique Pool Tables. It’s open by appointment only and allows viewing of some of the finest antique pool tables in the country. Currently we have 25 pool tables on display, all of which have been restored to exacting detail. Peters Billiards’ entire collection is considered to be one of the most valuable restored antique billiard table collections in the country. This extensive collection was carefully accumulated over time with each table given extensive attention to exacting detail in order to restore it back to its original beauty. Here is sneak peek into our new private showroom, along with history behind Peters Billiards’ involvement with Antique Pool Tables.

For the Love of Billiards

It all started with Greg Peterson and his passion for antique billiards and quality, old world craftsmanship.  He loves woodworking and constructed his first table at the age of 15. Brunswick built some of the greatest American wood furniture in the late 19th and early 20th centuries which is why antique tables became his passion. The restorations started out as hobby projects in his parents’ garage in south Minneapolis and eventually moved to the old Nicollet Avenue shop location when he bought Peters Billiards from Ken Peters. The wood shop grew, moved a few times and now has its own location in Cambridge, MN devoted to restoring antique tables.

Left to right: Greg in front of the Nicollet Avenue shop. Greg with his first table he built in the 1960s.

A Rare Find

Back in the 1960s and 70s, Greg and his dad would drive around to small towns and ask lots of questions at antique stores, taverns, and cafés on the hunt for antique billiard tables. They would also check the Sunday newspaper classified ads looking for used tables in an effort to locate antiques.  Most of the tables they acquired were found right here in the Midwest and even here locally in the Twin Cities.  Tables were found in all types of locations including historic mansions, men’s clubs, and even a chicken coop. Quite a few tables came from the great pool rooms of the 20th Century such as St. Paul Recreation, located in the original Hamm Building, and The Minneapolis Recreation, which was located on 7th and Hennepin. Most tables have a wonderful history behind them. Just ask and we’ll most likely have a story to tell.

The “chicken coop” table.

Restoration Process

Once a table is acquired, it then comes time to restore it to its original beauty. Tables arrive in all conditions. A few tables are in pristine condition as they have been sitting in one location for many years. Most tables, however, have been moved multiple times and covered with years of grime, grease, tar, nicotine and sometimes shellac. Each table is studied in detail and research is conducted back to the original table.  The entire process from beginning to end takes anywhere from 100 to 200 hours of labor. Our goal of restoration is twofold: to restore the table to its original design and also return it to ultimate playability.  I could go into every detail of the restoration process, but I’ll save that for another post. These are the seven major steps of the restoration process:

1.  Stabilizing the Table
2. Rebuilding the Structure
3. Restoring the Design
4. Finishing and Staining
5. Restoring the Cushions, Rails and Pockets
6. Restoring the Slate
7. Antique Table Set Up

A few restoration process pictures.

The Value of Antique Billiard Tables

The difference between modern era tables and antique tables is apparent immediately upon viewing. But the details go far beyond just a décor style. Billiards is a competitive game and a billiard table is a very technical piece of furniture. Each table has to meet precise specifications for ultimate playability. A combination of many factors play a role in the overall value of each antique table. The factors include the overall design, species of wood, decorative woodwork, intricacies within the table, amount of inlays, inlay material, moldings, carvings, age of the table, rarity of the table and the restoration.

Left to right: Greg with a Monarch table in 1974. Monarch 8’ table in walnut currently in the antique showroom.

The restoration process brings these beautiful and timeless works of art back to life and it’s a fine craft that we’ve been perfecting for decades. The exacting details and time that goes into restoring an antique table are only accomplished through years of experience. Nothing compares to the beauty of a high-end restored antique pool table.

Master craftsmen: Bob, our head finisher, and Grant (right), our head restorer.

The Peters Difference

Most handymen can strip, stain, and varnish a piece of furniture. It’s the experience of years restoring antique tables into fine museum-worthy pieces of furniture that makes us different. It’s the careful attention that all of the same original materials are used such as rare exotic wood species and ivory sites, even right down using the same hide glue and hand carvings that made these tables so magnificent over a 100 years ago. These tables aren’t just fine pieces of furniture, they are instruments for the game of pool and we leave no stone unturned to bring them back to their original playability.

Restored antique tables on display in the new showroom. Top left: Original Brunswick nameplate. Top Right: Monarch inlay detail. Bottom left: Brilliant novelty inlay on leg detail. Bottom right: View of Peters Billiards antique pool table showroom.

Once a restored antique table is ready for its new home, Peters Billiards own crew of experienced installers will personally deliver, assemble, level, and prepare the antique table. You’ll most likely see Greg pop in to watch this final step of restoration, not only because he wants to oversee the process, but mostly because of his love for each magnificent table. He has a special spot in his heart for each and every one and finds much joy seeing each table placed with someone who will take the same pride and care for these tables.

Greg has acquired quite a bit of history with the antique tables he has restored. He’s now inviting you to continuing the story by owning an antique table all your own.  The table will last multiple generations and so will the memories you create.

Greg at the Cambridge wood shop.

For more information on the antique tables please visit our website. For a showroom appointment please contact Greg Peterson, Steve Slyce, or Scott Mullin.

Thank you for visiting Entertaining Designs.