Thread: Wooden BOBS Balls - Help to find/buy

Didn't know that so many people knew about a game that i used to play when I visited my Grandad as a young boy. I'm now 70 and wanted to get some sizes etc, for making this game for my grandkids. The only info lacking so far is the length of the cue used for "Bobs". Also, I think it might be p[ossible to make the whole set in a fold-out construction so as to be able to store it in a box just long enough for the cue.

Any suggestions ?

Bluntles is the nickname I had at Primary School

Originally Posted by Manuka Jock

Yeah , show us ya Bobs

How about a drawing ?????? Some visual representation !!!! Anything!!! I'm with you guys, interested yet unable to visualise the end product A simple indoor game requiring physical coordination, concentration and respect (coz Pa made it for the grandkids). It might even compete with the plug in drug (for a short while ).

Originally Posted by Jase

I have a Bobs set here in front of me made by my grandfather...he copied a purchased one. The rules as listed in a previous thread appear almost spot on. Here they are again...

1. Push in the two arms at each end and arrange the set at the end of a cloth covered table.
2. Place the odd coloured ball about 6” in front of the centre hole of the set and centrally between the two projecting arms.
3. The remaining balls are played from a fixed point or line at the other end of the table.
4. Each player plays the remaining balls. The odd ball must be hit by one of the remaining balls before any score is counted in any round.
5. If the odd ball is not hit by the first ball played, then that ball is “dead” and must be removed from the table before play goes on. This is repeated until the odd ball is hit.
6. If any ball is played into one of the apertures before the odd ball has been hit, the number shown over the aperture is deducted from the score of the player and the ball is removed from the table. Once the odd ball has been hit the remaining balls may be played into any aperture.
7. As each player completes a round, the numbers scored are added to the player’s total, then the next player carries on.
8. Points are scored by playing the balls into the apertures and adding the scores shown.
9. Should the odd ball be played into any pocket, double the number shown.
10. Games up to 50 or 100 points may be played and the player reaching the number first is the winner.

The numbering mentioned earlier does not appear correct. The centre hole is a 1 with the 8 to the left and 9 to the right...with the idea being the first hit you aim to hit the odd coloured ball on an angle to go into either the 8 or 9 (the highest possible openings). After a few games tonight with a young cousin, I was hoping to be able to find a set to buy on the internet. There's nothing so looks like I might have to copy the one I've got...though I'm not much of a woodworker. There's a couple of Australian websites that sell the wooden balls. They're quite cheap - just the postage that hurts.

Do you have any idea about the size of the cue used for the game?
Also, if I remember rightly, the two arms used to be hinged and needed to be swung out from the front oif the "stable" containing the nine appetures ?

From memory the cue was about 3' long.

Alright now, having read this thread it seems that too many are playing with Bobs Balls and cue... Does this mean that glasses are now needed to find the camera to take some pics.....

Fun bit over...

My granddad had that game and it was fun to play. I would like to make one for my son....so how about it.....

Steve

Many hearty Aussie thanks, ...

... and to Steve (after the measure of humour,,,

if you go back to earlier pages, the dimensions etc. are given by other
keen players (or those would like to be 'cued' in).

As for my plans I'm not sure if I'll go for the 25mm hardwood balls or the 32mm available from either of two Aussie suppliers (info also on earlier post pages). I haven't really thought out how to make this game (parts) foldable, but when worked out, will post information for others who may be interested.

Keith

I have a ball making jig for my lathe, I will make the balls for you if you havent already got them. Easy to make, you can come to tweed and make them yourself if you like. TF

This might not be exactly what BOBS is, but this is what I came up with by doing a Google search.

Unfortunately not Ed.

Thanks Keith. I'm still trying (from my dad) to find any photos that were taken of us playing the game. It was a long time ago (35 years).

Steve

Hi Tweedy,
Many thanks for your offer.
The two suppliers advertise these @ approx. 70 cents for the 25mm. ones and $1.00 for the 32mm.
Eleven such balls are needed, as I understand from the rules - one to be painted black and the other ten plain timber or alternatively white.
They need to be hardwood, and the postage factor is probably the greater cost.

I could not expect you to compete with the above prices, even on labour aspect alone. May have to go with the first option, as Emu Plains is snuggled at the base of the Blue Mountains in western Sydney.

Keith

After finding your site looking for rules for Bobs for my sister, I then went looking for a site that sells them and found there was also a pic...

http://www.zestforlife.com.au/table_bobs.htm

Hope this satisfies a few people who are still in the dark, and thanks for the instructions, am sure my niece and nephew will be a new generation of out family who are introduced to the game

Hi, I've just gone through the process of registering JUST to give you kind people a bit of relief. Here are some links to places that sell table bobs online, although they are both in Australia:

http://www.zestforlife.com.au/gamesactivities.htm

http://www.3-plus.com.au/3-plus-recreational-games.htm

Both have pictures!!!!!!!

The reason I ended up here at your forum is that I am visiting my parents with my 10yo son, mum got out the old bobs set and son cleaned it up but wanted to know the rules, and a Google search pulled up this thread with the rules in it. Thanks, I now have the rules, so I thought I'd post the links as a thankyou.

It only took 4 years to the day and numerous posts over those years to finally get a picture.

Well done.