BANKSHOT POCKETS/ BANKSHOT ANTIQUES

Donald Bartholomay and Dave Grunenwald from Albany, N.Y.-based Bankshot Antiques / Bankshot Pockets, have been restoring antique pool tables for more than 25 years, usually doing half a dozen or so a year and installing them personally all across the country.

This was the duo’s first BCA show and they were interested in coming to highlight that they now offer pocket repairs to all dealers across the country.

“When Hood closed up a few years back, everyone did two things – bought a supply of parts- and waited to see who would take over the business,” Bartholomay says. “When no one did, since I had been buying raw parts from Hood, dying and hand-sewing our pockets for years, we started looking into making parts for our own tables and that grew into doing it for the industry.”

He explains that when you buy readymade-on-new-iron pockets, they are inexpensive, but chances are they won’t fit the table.

“There is a wide variety of irons out there on the old tables and putting new leather on your existing irons keeps the originality of the table and ensures they will fit,” Bartholomay says. “Our leather is high quality, dip-dyed, waxed and buffed (not painted) and the pockets are assembled with a combination of machine and hand-stitching, riveting and gluing.”

At the Expo, the company showed how they refurbish pockets for individuals as well as dealers and offered dealers discounted prices.

“You can buy the leather parts or send in your irons and have us do the whole job,” Bartholomay says. “The vast majority of our customers send us their irons instead of doing the sewing themselves. We are also now making an all-leather, upgraded version of the bucket pockets used in the currently popular modern-style enclosed pocket tables.”

For more information, visit www. bankshotpockets.com.

Bbo Poker Tables

At the Expo, BBO Poker Tables, the leader in customized poker tables for the in-home recreation segment, showcased three custom poker tables, two of which were from its signature line collaboration with WSOP poker champions Joe Cada and Jamie Gold, as well as a custom table commissioned by the World Poker Tour for Steve Aoki.

“Besides our stunning products that bring friends and families together to share unforgettable memories,” said George Chao, CEO and founder of BBO Poker Tables. “We have strong logistics in terms of delivery, customization and short lead times. Many of our products have dual-use capabilities, that is, offered with optional dining tops to turn a professional poker table into a dining table when not in use.”

BBO Poker Tables have some of the most customizations available with the shortest lead times, which means that retailers have the opportunity to select from a basic table all the way up to a fully customized final table.

For more information reach out to wholesale@bbopokertables.com.