Item 28
This is a premier example of 19th-century billiard room equipment. Produced by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. during their most innovative era, this Pin Pool Scorekeeper is a sophisticated mechanical record-keeper designed for one of the most popular social games of the Victorian age.
Specifications & Features
Manufacturer: Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. (BBC)
Era: Circa 1870s
Material: Fine Wood Construction with Brass Components
Unique Hardware: Features rare numbered brass pea cups with top-opening lids.
Storage: Integrated lower shelf designed to hold “billiard smalls” (chalk, tips, or markers).
Dimensions: 23 1/4″ wide by 21 1/2″ high
Historical & Game Context
Pin Pool was a high-stakes, strategic game often played in upscale 19th-century parlors. It utilized “peas” or “pills” (small numbered balls) kept in a shaker bottle to assign secret numbers to players.
The Pea Cups: These numbered brass cups were essential for the game, allowing players to securely store their private numbers or track their progress during a match.
Mechanical Design: The top-opening lids on the brass cups are a hallmark of high-end 1870s craftsmanship, providing a tactile and durable solution for busy billiard rooms.
Collector’s Appeal
Rarity: Complete Pin Pool scorekeepers from the 1870s are increasingly difficult to find, especially those retaining their original brass hardware and functional top-loading cups.
Functional Decor: The combination of rich wood and polished brass makes this a standout wall-mounted piece. The addition of the lower shelf adds a layer of utility that is often missing from later, more simplified scoreboards.
BBC Provenance: As an authentic Brunswick-Balke-Collender piece, this item carries the “pedigreed” status that defines the golden age of American billiard manufacturing.
Please call for more information on this rare 1870s BBC Pin Pool scorekeeper.
