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The Materials (only the best will do)
Caring For Your Vitalie Treasure
In these remote
hills of Western North Carolina, learning to work with your hands is
still the most important skill any man can master. It's a patient,
time-honored way of doing things that's been passed down from father to
son for as long as anyone can remember. It's not the fastest, cheapest,
or easiest, way to build something but for folks in this remote region
it is the only standard they will accept. Peter Vitalie turned his hand to many things searching for the one that inspired him; he found it in billiards. He loved to play pool and was good at it too but he loved the pool tables he played on even more. He became a billiard mechanic and soon had worked on thousands of tables. Some were centuries old and still fine, sound and beautiful. Others were nearly new and in some cases lucky to be standing. They lacked the sound structure and quality craftsmanship of the bygone era. He dedicated himself, his ability as a craftsman and years of hands on experience to returning billiard equipment to the excellence he felt it deserved. He worked with a few gifted helpers until he had achieved his goal, the finest pool tables in recent history; perhaps the finest ever made. At Vitalie, this age-old process begins with the basics. Only the finest materials will do. 100% American hardwood inside and out. Thick, heavy lumber and plenty of it. Then a structure big and strong enough to support the generations of players who will put their full trust and weight upon it. For maximum strength and rigidity the cabinet must be broken down into the shortest, strongest cross-sections possible. Just as dowels, dovetails and tongue and groove have been the hallmark of fine furniture for centuries, Vitalie uses a unique fine joinery system and interlocking structure of wood supporting wood to assure a lasting strength and stability to their tables. To insure that they look as good as they play each part of every Vitalie table is painstakingly hand sanded. Special dyes that penetrate the wood and enhance the natural beauty create rich colors and numerous coats of the clearest high quality sealers and lacquers provide both beauty and protection. With exceptional skill the finishing artisans enhance the lines and contours with crystal clear highlights. Now you have a proper foundation for the precision honed natural slate bed and precisely crafted top rails. Top rails must absorb most of the wear and tear through the years as hands and cues constantly rub across them. They are made to exacting specifications of the hardest woods and carefully hand sanded, dyed to compliment the cabinet and then hand waxed, hand buffed and hand finished to produce a durable surface that is less likely to be damaged by the tribulations of play. Then and only then does the Vitalie name go on it, proudly for the world to see. A hundred years ago, all billiard tables were made this way, patiently, one at a time, with a block of wood in one hand and a carving tool in the other. But as plywood and offshore assembly plants began to replace Old World craftsmen, this time honored American tradition was in danger of disappearing overnight. But not at Vitalie. We are proud to be the last Billiard Company keeping this lost art alive. We build all our tables as if the spirit and standards of those old master woodworkers were still guiding our hand. That's why our billiard tables are still cut from the finest real American hardwoods. We carefully select each wood for its strength and appearance. Then each is scrupulously carved and crafted, hand fit, hand sanded and hand finished to create a perfectly tuned instrument that will play as good as it looks. The result is a gift that will last a lifetime, a handsome addition to any home and an heirloom you can proudly pass from one generation to the next. From our hands to yours, Vitalie Handcrafted Billiard Tables. They only get better with time.
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