Craftsman Tim Meyers tells his “no more corner pocket” story:
“…My father, Jim Meyers and a coworker came up with the idea back in 1969 while working for McDonnell Douglas. They were inspecting a jig that just happened to be painted green with six holes evenly spaced apart around the edges. They both looked at each other and said, “Why not a round pool table?”
…Then about a year and a half went by and the first prototype was made. The table was featured on The Steve Allen Show, What’s My Line? and in almost all local newspapers, including the popular Orange County Register. Years went by and the table became a storage place for boxes inside the garage.
My father gave me the table back in 1989 and I refurbished it with different colored felt and replaced the wood paneling with some high gloss red and black Formica. Then about two years ago my son, Moe, came to me and said he wanted to invent something and start a business.
So we took my father’s Round Pool Table, made a few changes in the engineering design of the rail system and applied specifications, applied for a US and an International patent and started The JM Billiard Company.
Why a round pool table? We were not trying to change the billiard industry, just giving it a different and more challenging playing surface for its players. In the middle of each rail cushion there is a 7-inch straight section that protrudes about one inch past the curved section of the corresponding rail cushion or bumper. They produce a lot of your traditional bank shots and keeps the balls from running along the rail purposelessly.
You can play the same games on these Round Pool Tables as you would on a rectangular table. Most billiard players that have played on the round table say that they really enjoy playing on it because it is more challenging than a normal rectangular billiard table.
They also tell us because we’ve applied BCA specifications to the table that they don't have to make any changes in there shooting technique and style. Paul “The Ambassador of Pool” Gerni said regarding the Round Pool Table, "It teaches players to be more than they are and yet reach back to pull out more of their skill."
The JM Billiard Co. offers Round Pool Tables in three sizes--6, 7 or 8 feet in diameter for our standard models, with many choices of colored and wood laminates…with over 20 different colors of cloth to choose from also!
…Standard models start at $4,000. We also offer Custom Round Pool Tables where your readers, our customers pick thy type of wood wanted, to match existing furniture, or if they have a room theme of some sort. Custom designs and logos engraved on the rails, on the skirts, we customize any table the way they want it. The possibilities are endless, even without a corner pocket.
There's only about a 4-week wait for Standard Round Tables and about a 6- to 8-week wait on Custom Round Tables. The JM Company just recently donated an 8' Custom Round Pool Table to Las Vegas’ favorite charity, , if your readers want to visit it in action…”
Thanks for the heads up, Tim. The JM Billiard Co. is located at:
3130 Franklin Avenue Suite B
Riverside, CA 92507
Tim Meyers may be reached personally at (951) 818-1077 (USA) or at timmeyers@jmbilliard.com.
Tell Tim you read his story at About.com.
Maybe it is time to abandon the corner pocket!
