Chit Chat
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04 Nov 18
18:19
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Date Joined:
14 Sep 04
Good evening, everyone.
Here's my dilemma, perhaps a challenge worthy of the esteemed Chit Chat Detective Agency?
I would dearly love to add the beautiful pool ball set pictured below to my extensive collection. They were made by a firm called The Hyatt Albany Billiard Ball Company of New York in mid 1970s. My search thus far has, alas, proved unsuccessful. I am therefore offering a £100 reward to any heroic treasure hunter who can put me in touch with a seller of a mint, unused example if it leads to a sale.
Although undoubtedly rare this is not a lost cause, ladies and gentlemen. A few sets do still exist out there. My advice to anybody prepared to try for my £100 prize, however, is to steer clear of American pool and billiard forums. I've already spoken to all the existing owners who frequent those boards and none are ready to sell just yet.
Most private billiard ball trades between collectors are conducted on social media giants like Facebook these days. Not being a member on any of these sites, there's surely a great opportunity for somebody who knows their way around such platforms.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read about my quest. And good luck!
Here's my dilemma, perhaps a challenge worthy of the esteemed Chit Chat Detective Agency?
I would dearly love to add the beautiful pool ball set pictured below to my extensive collection. They were made by a firm called The Hyatt Albany Billiard Ball Company of New York in mid 1970s. My search thus far has, alas, proved unsuccessful. I am therefore offering a £100 reward to any heroic treasure hunter who can put me in touch with a seller of a mint, unused example if it leads to a sale.
Although undoubtedly rare this is not a lost cause, ladies and gentlemen. A few sets do still exist out there. My advice to anybody prepared to try for my £100 prize, however, is to steer clear of American pool and billiard forums. I've already spoken to all the existing owners who frequent those boards and none are ready to sell just yet.
Most private billiard ball trades between collectors are conducted on social media giants like Facebook these days. Not being a member on any of these sites, there's surely a great opportunity for somebody who knows their way around such platforms.
Thank you very much for taking the time to read about my quest. And good luck!
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PK - I'm assuming you've tried ebay
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=Hyatt+Albany+billiard+balls&_sacat=0 |
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I have indeed, sir. I check nearly every day.
Many thanks for the links. All those sets listed are from The Hyatt Albany Billiard Ball Company, but they're not the ones I'm after unfortunately. Best wishes. |
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They’re in my loft. Shake hands for a monkey and they’re yours.
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Post up some pictures, JM, and we'll see if a deal can be struck. :)
I must sign off now, gentlemen, but will check back later. Believe me, I'd love to pay out the £100. Best wishes. |
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Oh, I should clarify, the £100 is just a finder's fee reward. Whatever I have to pay for the balls themselves is totally separate.
Cheers for now. :) |
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i go to loads of car boots and will keep an eye out for these poker !
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Thank you very much indeed, sir.
I fear it is extremely unlikely that a set will be found anywhere in the UK as these were only manufactured in relatively small numbers for the American market. Without doubt the best chance of success would be to post up the image on as many suitable social media site pages as possible, particularly those viewed by folks in the north eastern states of USA. If any kind souls on here have the necessary skills or contacts to advertise my search on Facebook or Twitter etc, nothing would make me happier than to pay out the £100 finder's fee reward if a set finds its way into my collection. Best wishes. |
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How much do you expect to pay for them?
GL in your search ntw. |
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Obviously I'd love to snag a bargain if possible, Mr A, but these balls are probably valued at about $250 to $300. My finder's fee reward of £100 is therefore relatively generous, but I'd gladly pay it to get my hands on a set.
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have I seen this thread on 2+2?
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Yes, sir, that was me. Well remembered! I've upped my reward since then. :)
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hope you or someone else finds them, gl
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Very impressive memory there, Mr G. It was a while ago and unless you're into pool ball collecting it's admirable that you remembered the set.
Bravo, sir! |
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There you go, 125 dollars
https://us.letgo.com/en/i/roman-numeral-billiard-ball-set_43c115c7-1f85-4cf7-a3f3-6322acec8c19 you may find them here too: https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=420402 |
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I actually created similar threads on one or two billiard forums in the US (plus the 2+2 poker forum), but I really need somebody with experience of targeting the behemoths that are Facebook and Twitter. That is where most of the trades are now conducted.
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did u ever get the K of diamonds ball? I dont remember if u did or not
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Hello, TMM. :)
Many thanks indeed for your efforts, sir. Alas, that listing is very old and the balls were sold long ago. They're also not quite the desired set (I already have them) although very similar. I actually know the gentlemen who sold them, A Mr Ryan Shane from New York. |
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Yes and no, Mr G. Somebody contacted me with a complete set in mint condition and we struck a deal. :)
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Here they are, Mr G.
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nice
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a little off topic but do you follow the 9 ball? will USA finally put up a fight in the mosconi cup this year
 I do enjoy watching it |
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This is the set from TMM's link, by the way. Manufactured by the same company and also very desirable, certainly worth a lot more than the $125 requested. I'd be a buyer at anything sub $250 for these, too, in perfect condition, but it's the set of my OP that I'm really seeking.
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My money is always on Europe, Mr G. Not only do they have the better players, the American team tactics tends to be questionable in my view.
Also, their selection process does them no favours at all. |
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I'm off to bed, gentlemen. Thank you for your company this evening. I'll bump this thread to the top every once in a while in the hope somebody can help me out. And claim the £100 of course!
Good night. :) |
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Sounds like you'll need deep pockets for these balls.
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Good luck with your search Pokermonster - an interesting thread to read
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collectors will be cueing up for these , hope the op gets a break and finds what he is looking for ! he will be in a good frame of mind if he does ! good luck with your search poker
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personaly i would baulk at paying that price but each to his own !
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Another internet suggestion is Reddit
Have you tried r/pool or r/billiards? |
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e.g.
Does anyone know where the best place to sell high-quality-antique billiard balls would be? eBay? Other sites? (self.billiards) submitted 11 months ago by wobegone1 I’m selling some antique billiard balls for my local billiard store. The owner is not very computer savvy, so he has asked me to help. Before I commit, I’d like to know if anyone knows where I could sell them? He also has an original The Hustler movie poster staring Paul Newman. If anyone has any advice on where to sell that, I would be obliged. --------------- You certainly could try ebay, but if I were you I would list them on Facebook open billiards market and probably AZBilliards. https://www.facebook.com/groups/billiardsmarket/ http://forums.azbilliards.com/forumdisplay.php?f=5 |
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Good afternoon, Poppydog. :)
Thank you very much indeed for the advice and suggestions, sir. It's all very mych appreciated. I'm a well known face on AZB, so that avenue has been explored already. There are one or two owners of this particular set as members but they're ready to sell just yet. Regarding Facebook: As mentioned, I am a complete novice on these types of social media platform. I did sign up recently with the specific intent of advertising my search on the same 'Billiards Market' pages you linked, dear chap. Alas, it is a 'closed group' and despite many attempts to join it will not accept me as a new member. I suspect one has to have a few months of Facebook under your belt before the moderators will welcome any newcomers to their party? That Reddit link sounds very intriguing. I'll definitely be having a look at that, sir. Thank you very much indeed. Just to reiterate, if anyone fancies s pop at finding this set of pool balls on my behalf (pasting the image on Facebook, Twitter and Reddit etc) I'd be very grateful indeed. And if it leads to a sale I'll be very happy to pay the £100 finder's fee as promised. Best wishes, everyone. :) |
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Apologies. "They're NOT ready to sell just yet" that should have read.
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Poker, this is a " long shot " but you could try registering at ...
https://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb .. which covers 100s of auction houses worldwide, you could easily enter an Alert for say .. " hyatt albany billiard balls " .. thats it done ! if any come up for sale you will get an email alerting you. Good Luck. |
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Thank you, sir. An excellent suggestion!
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Typical Reddit thread, Pokermonster
https://www.reddit.com/r/billiards/comments/9u04ti/what_is_the_thing_that_drives_you_crazy_during/ |
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/Hyatt-Romanique-Vintage-Roman-Numeral-Balls-Pool-Billiards-Ball-Complete-Set/253955932673?ha****m3b20f40201:g:5zsAAOSwab1b12oZ:rk:3:pf:1&frcectupt=true
not quite the same |
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you will be very lucky to find a mint set
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