New guy here with a Fischer pool table new to him

1/19/2013 1:53:57 AM

New guy here with a Fischer pool table new to him

I am brand new here at the Billiards Forums, and the reason I am here is because I found what I thought was a awesome deal on craigslist - A Fischer pool table from the Tipton mfg era. I was able to get it for only $20.

It is a home model, I don't know the year, and I don't know the specific model number. Though it's not as fancy as most older Fischer pool tables I have read about here.

It has laminated particle board rails (with two rotating score dials on the breaking end).
The bumpers are intact and still wrapped with cloth and do not seem damaged.
The side boards are also particle wood
The inner supports are made from plywood
The legs are 2 x 6 built squares with two angled support struts (I have no clue if they are original).
It has no ball return, just the catch pockets.
The thickness of the body without the legs is about 9 and a half inches.

All of the wood, as it is, seems good, it's solid, but the felt was trashed. It seems that most of the things you can tighten are loose, but after looking closely and inspecting it, it seems to be all there and intact.

Has far as markings:

On the bottom of the slate it has - Fischer 8.74 pl | (1 2516, 86).
It has 2 metal tags on one side. One is the Fischer logo, the other is the serial number tag - (A 63019) .

I am aware that this is meaningless now that Tipton Mfg. is no more and the records are gone, but I thought MAYBE someone might know something about it.

So, my questions are these:

Does any one know what Fischer model this pool table would be?
Is it a standard size pool table? I need to know this because I have to re-felt it, and if it's not standard size, I don't want to pay for a felt kit that will not fit.
I really don't like particle board wood, and I want to add a ball return, so is it feasible to build a cabinet for the slate with more substance, and with room for the ball return and for some extra style elements? I can build it myself (at least up to the rail system). I will more than likely have to buy those and implement a new attachment system for them, same with new pockets for the return system.

So that leads me to:
Are there plans for building a new pool table cabinet that would be freely available on the net or are manufacturers willing to sell them if you buy their rail systems, parts and hardware for said cabinet?

I know it will be a good sized project but I am actually looking forward to it, since the end product will be MY hand-crafted pool table with original Fischer roots when I am done. That is why I am not interested in what it is worth as a Fischer pool table, but rather, I am interested in what it was e.g. the Fischer model and year of manufacture, so I can make my own tag e.g.

Born of a Fischer 19xx Model XYZ

It's only right, as Fischer does have a Pedigreed if little known lineage in the history of pool tables.

ANY info is welcomed! I have only had the table a few days so as soon as I get actual measurements of rails, corner to diagonal corner, width, length, bumpers, I'll post them along with pics of the Fischer pool table as it is now.

PS : I am an avid pool player, but this is my first pool table so I am a novice at pool table part terms and terminology. As such please forgive any poorly phrased questions on my part and if you are able, please steer me in the right direction and feel free to educate me,. Also, if anyone has any ideas about this type of project or has seen something I have failed to consider, or even completely missed PLEASE chime into the thread as I could use the knowledge. The great thing about forums is others can too because as far as I can tell there seems to be a good number of people out there who have these 1st gen Fischer pool tables and no resources or information pool's for them.

hardist

New guy here with a Fischer pool table new to him

Replies & Comments

Zeke on 1/19/2013 8:00:14 AM
I too have cabinet making skills, the tools, etc. to try something like that myself. And on a low investment project like yours, would have a blast, making something "special" out of what you have.

But like brain surgery, special materials and proper tools won't make me a brain surgeon. The simple tools required to re-felt a table, install new cushions and cover the rails is not something that can be tried, without compromising the end result - IMO.

You must decide what the priority is. Do you want to learn how to restore a pool table? Or, do you want to PLAY on a pool table restored by a pro?

If the latter, find a decent tech, who can cite multiple jobs where he's done what you want done, for others.

If the former, take your time and try and find resources (written instructions on how to - and material vendors with helpful installation tips on pocket alignment, glues required, staple pullers and the like and see what happens.

The issues will be these: The cost to a first-time restorer for cushions, felt and all the hardware (that might need attention) will cost you at least $500.

Meanwhile, a tech/pro gets these materials at wholesale and would charge maybe $750 for labor AND all the materials.

If you screw it up, you have no recourse. If a tech/pro screws it up, you can withhold payment - or ask for return visit to teak some fault.

I could do brain surgery 100 times, but the patient would die every time I did. Likewise, you have a table that was practically free. Don't let THAT patient die.

Let a pro do it, and do it right.

New guy here with a Fischer pool table new to him

Title: New guy here with a Fischer pool table new to him
Author: hardist (Joe Moya)
Published: 1/19/2013 1:53:57 AM