Burroughes & Watts
William Burroughes founded this firm, which would become one of the most famous english billiard table manufacturers, in partnership with F. Watts in 1836. William learnt his trade with Thurston's, and set up his new business at 19 soho square, London. From the start they were at the forefront of billiard table development and received a gold medal at the Great exhibition of 1851, with a similar award being received at the subsequent London exhibition of 1862. In 1854 James samuel Burroughes joined the firm and it was under his stewardship that the company experienced its greatest development. By1860 they were making a modest 150 full-sized tables a year, but by the end of this decade production had doubled, the business now looked for expansion away from London and in the early 1870s they opened branches in dublin and Belfast. Walter Buttery became a partner and is credited with the invention of the "steel-block" cushion and the "eureka Vacuum Cushion" (fitted to the table illustrated). In 1873 the company secured a major contract for billiard tables to "her Majesty's War department and Admiralty" and around the same time received the warrant of Queen Victoria and edward, Prince of Wales. In 1875 they opened their London match-room in Dean street. This subsequently moved to soho square in 1902, and would be the venue for many famous encounters, which are now part of billiards history. Provincial showrooms and offices had been established in Manchester, and expansion increased with agencies established in Australia and New Zealand. Over the years Burroughes and Watts absorbed other well-known companies such as Cox & yeman and Orme & son but finally ceased
William Burroughes founded this firm, which would become one of the most famous english billiard table manufacturers, in partnership with F. Watts in 1836. William learnt his trade with Thurston's, and set up his new business at 19 soho square, London. From the start they were at the forefront of billiard table development and received a gold medal at the Great exhibition of 1851, with a similar award being received at the subsequent London exhibition of 1862. In 1854 James samuel Burroughes joined the firm and it was under his stewardship that the company experienced its greatest development. By1860 they were making a modest 150 full-sized tables a year, but by the end of this decade production had doubled, the business now looked for expansion away from London and in the early 1870s they opened branches in dublin and Belfast. Walter Buttery became a partner and is credited with the invention of the "steel-block" cushion and the "eureka Vacuum Cushion" (fitted to the table illustrated). In 1873 the company secured a major contract for billiard tables to "her Majesty's War department and Admiralty" and around the same time received the warrant of Queen Victoria and edward, Prince of Wales. In 1875 they opened their London match-room in Dean street. This subsequently moved to soho square in 1902, and would be the venue for many famous encounters, which are now part of billiards history. Provincial showrooms and offices had been established in Manchester, and expansion increased with agencies established in Australia and New Zealand. Over the years Burroughes and Watts absorbed other well-known companies such as Cox & yeman and Orme & son but finally ceased
trading in 1967 ,the current company trading has no association with the original.
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