This Antique Clay Hexagonal Directsite Pool Ball Set (Item 58) is a fascinating piece of industrial design from the turn of the century. While the “Zig Zag” sets focused on ornamentation, the Directsite (often marketed as “Direct-Sight”) line was specifically engineered to improve the player’s accuracy through geometry. Sold to SW. Please check with us on others.
The presence of the original wooden label box is a massive value-multiplier, as it confirms the branding and protects the balls from the “flat-spotting” that occurs when they are stored loose for decades.
The “Hexagonal” Innovation
The “Hexagonal” designation usually refers to one of two things in this era of ball manufacturing:
Visual Alignment: The numbers or identifiers were framed within a hexagonal border. This geometric shape provided a “level” horizontal line, helping players judge the center-point of the ball for more accurate “English” or draw shots.
The “Directsite” Patent: These balls were marketed as being more “true” than standard clay. By using a hexagonal grid for the placement of the numbers, the manufacturer claimed to have better balanced the weight of the composition material during the molding process.
Material and Condition
2 1/4″ Regulation Size: These were meant for standard pocket billiards. Finding a full set of clay balls that has maintained its spherical integrity is rare; clay composition is more susceptible to environmental shrinkage than ivory or modern resin.
The Original Wooden Box: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, these boxes were often made of finger-jointed pine or oak with a lithographed paper label. If the label is still legible, it provides the “Directsite” trademark info, which is highly sought after by “cross-over” collectors of vintage advertising and billiard memorabilia.
Preservation of the Directsite Set
| Component | Preservation Action |
| The Clay Surface | Like your Zig Zag set, avoid all liquids. If the hexagonal markings are starting to fade, keep them out of direct UV light to prevent further “ghosting” of the pigment. |
| The Wooden Box | The wood can become brittle. A light application of Howard Feed-N-Wax on the exterior only (avoiding the paper label) can keep the wood from splitting. |
| Storage | Store the balls inside the box, but ensure the box is kept in a low-humidity area. Clay can absorb atmospheric moisture, which may cause the wood of the box to swell or the balls to “craze” further. |
Collector’s Summary
The Directsite brand represents the bridge between the “primitive” clay balls of the mid-1800s and the high-tech scientific approach of the early 20th century. Having the original box makes this a “Cabinet Piece”—one that is best displayed on a shelf in a library or a billiard room alongside your Whitney Zig-Zag Rack.
