Pace-Setter Pool Table by Quality Billiards Manufacturing Co. in Gardena, CA
7/24/2009 12:16:01 PM
Pace-Setter Pool Table by Quality Billiards Manufacturing Co. in Gardena, CA
I have an older coin operated Pace-Setter pool table by Quality Billiards Mfg. Co. from Gardena, California.
I've had this pool tables for about 5 years now, It's called a Pace-Setter and it is coin operated.
Do you know anything about this brand?
The name pace-setter is on the pool table tag along with the words Quality Billiards MFG. CO. in Gardena Calif. It also has the letters "RB" in a triangle rack.
deedeePace-Setter Pool Table by Quality Billiards Manufacturing Co. in Gardena, CA
Replies & Comments
billiardsforum on 9/22/2016 3:55:51 PMQuality Billiards MFG, Co. of Gardena California went out of business way back in the early 1980's. They were big-time pool table makers in the 1960s and 1970s. Perhaps one of the more well-known ones of the day.
They usually stamped the date of manufacture underneath the rail sections. If you can remove a rail and have a look underneath, it should be stamped there.
They made Pace-Setter pool tables and there was a commercial coin-op version and I believe that there was also a retail version.
They were connected with (and some may have been made in part by) Baker Manufacturing, owned by Ray Baker Sr. who also owned Quality Billiards MFG Co. - The letters "RB" in the rack triangle logo come from Ray's initials. Apparently Ray invented and patented the coin-operated gravity ball drop mechanism used in the Pace Setter pool tables.
One pool table service tech said this about the pace-setter billiard tables:
The Pace-Setter pool tables were made by Baker Manufacturing. It was all plywood construction used in the frame and legs and they had solid bolted down rails. They are one of the best coin-op pool tables ever built.
I put them in the top 5 of at least 23 different kinds of coin-op pool tables sold up in Washington state. The Pace Setter is the only coin-op pool table built in it's time that could have the rails extended with no problem to tighten the pockets. They were a real pleasure to work on.
Here are a few photos of the Pace Setter billiard tables:
Apparently Corning Furniture & Billiards bought out Baker Manufacturing / Baker's Billiards quite some time ago.
These days, Ray's son Doug and his wife Denise make high end custom pool tables out of Grant's Pass, OR. (think $30 grand a pop)
user1479183622 on 11/14/2016 11:20:23 PM
We have two of these pacesetter coin op pool tables in Coos Bay, OR.
I want to convert the coin-op so that it is free pool all the time for our members.
I would like to know how to remove all of the mechanism, especially the ball tray that catches the return balls and stops them before they are released.
- billiardsforum on 11/15/2016 9:21:21 AM
Most coin mechanisms have a "free play" setting.
You will need to open up the ball return area or coin box area the supplied keys, and gain access to the coin mechanism.
Is there any brand name on the coin mechanism?
Once we determine what brand and style of coin mechanism the pool table has, we can find the step-by-step instructions. I don't recall what type the pace-setter pool tables used.
If it is an older style mechanical "slider" type mechanism (e.g. you put the coins in and then push the mechanism inward to inject the coins and then slide it back out) then you just need "blanking plates" e.g. plastic inserts that go in the coin slot. With those in place, you can just slide the mechanism in and out to release the balls.
The coin mechanism is already out. I would like to know how to remove the drop gate so it is easier to retrieve the balls, without banging our knuckles.
Philip Priddy on 4/18/2017 1:06:26 AMI'm looking for a coin mechanism and a service door for a Pacesetter pool table.
I'm in Salinas California and my phone number is (831) 206-3076.
Thank you,
Philip
user1491271162 on 4/20/2017 9:46:25 AMWhat is an estimated value of the Pace-Setter pool table?
Where would I be able to get an idea of what the pool table is worth? Or where would I get an estimate on the value of a Pace Setter pool table?
Thank you,
Lisa Dyer
Pace-Setter Pool Table by Quality Billiards Manufacturing Co. in Gardena, CA
- Title: Pace-Setter Pool Table by Quality Billiards Manufacturing Co. in Gardena, CA
- Author: deedee (Dee Murillo)
- Published: 7/24/2009 12:16:01 PM
- Last Updated: 9/22/2016 3:28:53 PM
- Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)
