The growth of Pool in the UK was based on the same business model as that employed in Australia. The Australian pub industry had successfully adapted American style Pool tables to fit Australian bars. The European manufacturers started to look at this concept and started to look at producing a table small enough to fit inside the tight confines of a traditional British public house.

A French firm Rene Pierre had a leading role in the development of the product but the manufacturing company owned by one Rex Williams  played an important part in the introduction of tables to the UK. Due to the success of Snooker the UK male found the idea of playing “American Pool” particularly attractive in their local. Rene Pierre first launched his product at ATE (Amusement Trades Exhibition) at Earls Court in 1972. The take up of the product was phenomenal and soon other manufacturers such as Hazel Grove , Marloss , and R.Blakeborough began production of their own versions.

In the early 1960’s you could travel across the UK and not see one Pool Table , you would though see plenty of Snooker and Bar Billiards tables which were the games of choice during this period. However by the mid 1980’s it was estimated that there were 50,000 sited Pool Tables with the figure growing exponentially. Thus the social aspect of Pool and the importance attributed to it by many illustrates how significant a part it has played in recent social history.

We are aware that three Snooker Clubs shut in July and August , two in Derbyshire and one in Northamptonshire. All three of these clubs were situated upstairs and had become less popular due to customer’s reluctance to leave their beer and walk downstairs for a cigarette. This in itself is sad news and demonstrates the effects that the governments policy is now having on small independent leisure based businesses. Clearly the price of alcohol in Licensed premises , the cheap Supermarket beer and each individuals perception about their personal circumstances is also affecting their spending habits.

However news has reached us that a Riley’s business in Pontefract has also closed in September. Riley’s are by far the biggest operator of Snooker and American Pool clubs across the UK. This shows that even large groups with much greater funds are starting to have to make serious decisions as to the viability of their businesses. The cuesports trade is not alone in this plight , Public House closures are at the highest for years , Beer Volumes are down to levels not seen since the 1930’s and the income in Bingo Halls and Casinos has fallen with significant increases in specific taxation in this sector.

Therefore if you are a club operator and would like to spread your costs of renovation work - please come and talk to us. Alternatively if you use a Snooker Club or indeed any member’s club - please support it as best you can for if things continue in a similar vein a lot more will have disappeared by Christmas.

 Being a Mancunian by birth I have a bit of a soft spot for companies that are from that part of the world. Raper’s are a company that have an interesting story to tell. The business was actually created in 1843 in order to manufacture furniture. Due no doubt to the growing interest in Billiard Tables Raper’s decided to start manufacturing tables only two years later in 1845.

The first records that the company had of the Raper ancestors is entered by hand in a large book of common prayer which was owned by the family. This records the births and deaths of all the Raper ancestors . The most relevant entry refers to Thomas Raper driver of “The Stagecoach” from York to London and later cabinet maker. In 1845 this gentleman was made a “Freeman of the City of York” whether this was due to his skill driving “The Stagecoach” or his skills as a cabinet maker are unknown.

Thomas Raper fell in love with the game of billiards and decided to turn his hand to the production of billiard tables. He moved his family to Manchester into a small house on Friday Street whereupon he started his business. Thomas had no problem in producing and selling tables he bought timber from the Liverpool docks and let it season in his backyard. He then manufactured the tables in a rented workshop near his home.

Thomas Raper had two sons Thomas and James who joined him in the trade. James became the salesman and Thomas Junior an expert craftsmen dealt with manufacturing. It is believed due to their success that they moved in 1880 to new premises on Hilton Street in Manchester. On the 23rd of November 1889 they patented a special type of cushion bolt which incorporated a screw thread for the cushion button. By 1890 the company were on the move again this time to Lever Street Manchester. In 1894 as their fame spread they completed some work for the then Prince of Wales later to become King Edward VII at which point they were granted the Royal Coat of Arms. Interestingly at this time all the company ledgers were completed in the most immaculate copperplate style. The transportation of heavy goods was also a headache at this time and there is an interesting record of tables destined for Barrow being shipped to Fleetwood for onward transportation by boat. The majority of tables were taken by horse drawn cart to railway stations for onward delivery to customers.

As the size of the business continued to grow new premises were required and thus in 1903 they moved to Gaythorn Works Stephenson Square Manchester. Due to the scope of the business James Raper converted an old Sunday school into a showroom and converted three houses into extra workshops. However Thomas had a sister Ethel Raper who seeing an opportunity decided to open a billiard hall with her new husband Frederick Ingham.  This club was the first of many and of course all tables (14) were purchased from Rapers for the grand sum of £793. Inghams Billiard halls grew in number and all tables were purchased from Rapers.

The Great War had a huge bearing on the demise of the business as many fitters were killed whilst serving in the Allied forces , additionally it also led to the death of James Raper. This meant that only his wife Ellen and her young son Tom were left in charge. Fortunately they could rely on the service of two experienced employees Jos Hewitt and Walter Meakin. Unfortunately over time business continued to decline and the now grown up Tom had to make serious changes to the business. He therefore sought much smaller premises in “All Saints” Manchester. When Ellen Raper died Tom was left a small amount of money but due to his own ill health the business continued to just tick over. Indeed most customers changed to more efficient Billiard traders. As the years went by by the business failed to evolve and in 1949 Tom Raper decided to retire.

The business was put up for sale by Tom and one of his relations Gordon Raper son of sister Ethel Raper (Ingham) decided to leave his job and take over the family business. Thus a new company Raper & Sons Ltd was formed in 1949. In 1950 the company was trading at Cavendish Street Manchester offering “Reconditioning , Recovering , Re-rubbering and Maintenance”. The business continued to trade succesfully through the 1950’s and 60’s. It was during this period that Billiard Halls started to decline in number and indeed Raper’s bought back all the tables from the Ingham clubs as they closed. These tables were refurbished and put out on a rental basis.

Regardless of the enthusiasm of Gordon and his wife Kathleen , the business was a struggle and they had many ups and downs . In the 1970’s they moved out to premises in Ardwick Manchester and thankfully in the intervening period they had the support of a Miss Hilda Goodrick who had been a loyal employee through both good times and bad , she was an outstanding office manager and kept the administration of the business in perfect order. One bit of good fortune did come from a customers club burning down. Raper’s were asked to provide four new tables for the club and as a result of that a resurgence in the reputation of the business occurred. Suddenly more work became available and on the back of this the company diversified into other areas such as club furnishings and the supply of neccessities for the fast developing game of Bingo.

In 1983 Ethel Raper died in her 99th year . She was the oldest surviving family member linked to the billiard trade being the daughter of the Great Grandfather of the then Director Gordon Raper Ingham who founded the firm in 1845. Rapers was one of the most distinguished and successful of Billiard companies sadly with us no more.

The picture shows a former Billiards Hall in Stretford Road Old Trafford - whether this was an Ingham Hall is unknown. If anyone knows any further information on this hall please get in touch.

Apologies for the break in blogging but I have had a brief holiday to recharge the batteries. However I will make up for this with a number of entries on different subjects. I think it is reasonable to say that I have not written about the 8 Ball game in any detail for quite some time. Bearing in mind the number of people who play on a daily basis this is an inexcusable omission.

I have in my possession something that anyone who is interested in Pool will regard as a must have purchase. A gentleman called Mark Shepherd has produced the most wonderful reference tool about the game of Pool. The book deals with the history of the game and its earliest origins. The book is broken into several sections :- History , The Game , Basic Technique , Taking Control , Applying your Skills , Tactics , Playing to Win , and Trick Shots. Additionally it lists all the different rules and has a detailed Glossary. All the sections have at least five sub sections such as Development of Pool , Variations of Play , Awkward Cueing , Getting Position , Combination Shots , Sample Clearances , The Mental Game , Trick Shots With Props. The book (256 pages) is beautifully illustrated with lots of photos and diagrams. This is undoubtedly the definitive manual for people who are interested in the game of Pool , its origins and how the game is adapting.

The book is known as On Cue and costs £14.99 + postage - it is a perfect birthday/Christmas present. The author Mark is well placed to write this book as he is an International Tour player in his own right. He captained Oxford University and Oxfordshire at both Snooker and Pool and has coached numerous players at local league , County and International level. The book is available from ourselves on our website.