The Norman Clare Collection
The Norman Clare Collection at Thurston, St. Anne Street, Liverpool is probably the largest collection of billiards & snooker memorabilia in the world.
Company Histories
There are interesting histories of some of the famous billiard table manufacturers whose tables were used by the greats.
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E.A. Clare Son Ltd
As the oldest snooker / pool / billiard business on Merseyside in 2012 celebrated it’s 100th anniversary , the grandson of the founder has compiled some of it history complete with pictures of the personalities including the staff and managers over the years. The Company was founded in Fraser Street not half a mile from the current premises in St. Anne Street and so has been part of the local Everton district community for all its history.
Billiard Chalk
I should perhaps also briefly refer to the Billiard Chalk. It seems that chalk was used on the ends of cues even before the leather tips were used, in order to try and prevent or reduce miscuing. It is perhaps interesting to note that even today we use ordinary white chalk on the wooden chuck in a lathe in order to grip a Bowling Green Bowl firmly during the turning process. Originally the chalk used was white, but this made such a mess of the playing surface that the green and blue Chalks were introduced, which were not so noticeable on the green playing surface of the Billiard Cloth.
