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Alcock's was
affected for some time by the Depression of the 1930s, although
the magnificent performance of W Lindrum in England at this time
continued to inspire Australian billiard players. During World War
II the business was confined to preparing and repair of tables for
recreation of the Australian defence forces. It was not until the
mid-1950s when government import restrictions were lifted on billiard
cloth that normal trading resumed.
By this time general interest in the game of billiards had waned
in Australia. However, this was more than compensated for by the
rise of interest in the game of snooker and the American-derived
game of pool (eight ball).
Alcock's became involved once more in sponsorship and/or assistance
with amateur and professional tournaments including national and
some international events. The Company also provided support for
a variety of junior snooker and pool championships.
During the late 1980s interest in the games of snooker and pool
intensified further which led to the opening of snooker and pool
centres of a more modern style in several of the larger Australian
cities. Alcock's provided tables for a number of these centres.
In turn, this trend led to more competition and more popular interest
in these games.
In 1988 Alcock's joined forces with the highly respected New South
Wales Company, Heiron & Smith Billiards, founded in Sydney in
1883. This enabled Alcock's to develop one centralized manufacturing
system to provide tables of the highest quality for both companies.
Today Alcock's and Heiron & Smith continue to provide or prepare
tables for major championships; they continue to instal a substantial
number of tables in the homes of Australian enthusiasts; and provide
a number of tables for export. We continue the tradition of seeking
to do this at reasonable cost while maintaining a level of quality
which originally made Henry Alcock's and Walter Heiron's businesses
so well regarded.
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