Wayne,
Great stuff! I imagine those repairs were as effective as the skill of the repairman.
I say repair"man" as in all the years I can recall, I never saw a female on the premises of the local pool hall. There were 2 billiard tables and 8 standard pocket billiard tables. I say standard because they were 4 1/2' x 9'. They sold cigars and tobacco, and once upon a time one could get their hair cut, shoes shined, and hat blocked. The establishment was owned by two brothers, one of which passed at 102 years of age.
As best I can recall, they fixed small tears by gluing them. I wasn't there to witness it, but there was a story that a fellow who ran a restaurant a couple doors down attempted to break a rack of balls, and split the brand new felt half the length of the table. The story has it that the guy who was re-felting the tables (who was elderly), chased him out the front door and down the main street! Never heard the result of that chase.
