Hmmm.

Just recently purchased a set of vintage rubber multiplying billiard balls on the big auction site as part of my seemingly never ending quest to own every type of such balls ever made.

I know, I know. I'm sick. I'm sooo sick. Maybe I should make a web museum.

Anyway, the balls arrived and they are truly cool. Four big red balls and two shells, one red and one white.

Just one thing though.

The has a piece of Popsicle stick glued inside. white shell

Er, uh, what does this mean?

I'm sure it has a function...but what?

My knee jerk reaction is to extricate the offending bit of wood with my dremel tool or whatever works. Steady hands are called for here to be sure.

But, admitting the possibility that I don't know or fully grasp all there is to know about billiard balls (of the magical persuasion that is) perhaps I should hold off until greater minds than my own can chime in.

So what say you?

To extricate or not to extricate? That is the question?

P.S.: Can anyone identify these balls? Ireland Magic Company??

Ask Levent.

You did not say if the stick looked like it was a finished piece and rounded off, and how much of the stick is sticking out from the inside wall.

If the stick is finished and is only an 1/16th or so,put a ball in the shell and see how it fits. If the ball fits perfectly, I would say it is a spacer so the ball can be manipulated out of the shell. If is not and just a stick sticking out, then it was part of the dipping and drying process, and was a sloppy manufacturing process. If you purchased it from an auction, why not contact the person you purchased it from. They should not claim ignorance as they are the seller.

I would return the shell for replacement from the seller. As now, if you remove it, you will have a defect on the inside of the shell. If you can live with that, that is your decision.

That's weird. From the position, it looks like it might be an aid to the 'finger grip', allowing the popsicle stick to be gripped between the index and second fingers, or by the thumb, in order to covertly retain the shell in the palm, or back palm.
The fact that it's the white shell points toward use in a color change.

Oh, I missed the picture reference. Makes no sense to me why that stick would be there. The set looks old and used, maybe the previous owner had a purpose for the stick in that position.

I agree. I've never seen this either but my first impression was that the original owner modified the shell for use in his routine. Since you purchased it on the big site, the seller may not have been the original owner but it's worth a shot to try and contact him.

As one who doesn't work with shells, what would be the harm if he took it out? Is that something that is normally found in a shell? Seems it's easy enough to remove it and move on if it's not normally a part of the gimmick.

Mark.

Mr Levent and I are no longer on speaking terms since the unfortunate incident in Tangier.

That's a modification that some people did in the 1930s. It was done so that you could back palm the shell!

The only problem I had in Tangier Morocco was with a cab driver in 1995 (I'm not kidding).

Best regards,
Levent
http://www.LeventMagic.com

Just for that I'm gonna buy your DVD.

So there!

Well, Levent beat me to it. Just as well, as I wouldn't have known about the date. Given the facts, I'd recommend leaving the "offending bit of wood".

Strikes me, that if you had both shells on one ball, it would be a way to get the white one off. I think it is a locking tool.

Id just take it off

I'd say it's an aid for finger clipping or back to front palm moves etc. now that I've seen the picture you posted.
I have an old set of wooden balls with a little sponge glued to the inside center of the shell.
The reason it's there is to stop the balls from talking when slipped into the shell.
So if anyone has a noisy set try that. Just a little square piece in the center of shell. I hope maybe this little bit of Info. has helped some of you out.