Here is an antique pool table from Rhode Island we worked on yesterday. My clients just relocated to Dana Point, CA from RI. This beautiful 1898 pool table came along with them, we unfortunately we not able to complete the job. As I was unwrapping the rails, I noticed that the cushion rubber felt hard. When I brought this to the attention of the Mr. he was flabbergasted. Four years ago, back in Rhode Island he had this entire pool table restored, including new cushion rubbers. It was yet another case of cheap Chinese cushion rubber prematurely hardening and becoming unusable.
Furthermore, to add insult to injury, this rogue Naples, FL billiard restoration company used K-66 cushions on rails that anyone worth his salt should know K-55 cushions are the proper size to use! So when my client asked me to remove one of the “dead” pieces of rubber for him, I said why? He told me that he actually plays poker with the the owner of billiard company in RI and that he was “going to make him pay”! I wrapped up the rails and brought them to the shop for repair. I’ll post some pics of this table when I go back to finish setting it up.