Topic: My Story and Repalcement Ball Advice

[Jax11]

Hello all,

My name is Case, I am 23 and live in the Chicago-land area.  I have been lurking on these boards for a few weeks now since I inherited my Dad's foosball table.  I have already found some key maintenance and strategy tips and thank you all for your knowledge in advance.  I will be sharing the story of my foosball table laced with questions I have about it in the following text.  It will likely get long winded.  For those wanting to help with some of my questions but not read my wall of text please skip to the bottom, I'll summarize all the questions. 

First off, I am having trouble finding information on my table.  I know a picture is worth a thousand words and I am planning on snapping a few pictures of it tonight and posting them up on this thread to help aid in identifying the table.  I do know it is a Garlando glass top table.  The table was acquired by my grandfather sometime in the 70's.  He was in the vending machine business and seeing as it used to be a coin-operated machine I believe its from a bar-type setting.  He gave the table to my Dad when he was still in high school (in the 70's).  Since I suspect my grandfather got it used, it could have been a model from the late 60's.  The table is not in the best shape.  Most of the rods are slightly bent, the blue goalie's bearing rod on the handle side is duct taped in place, and the blue goalie himself is missing his head (personally I think this is awesome!)  Without naming every little nuance, I know it is not professional grade equipment. It is playable, we enjoy playing on it, and it has a lot of character.  I don't really wish to restore anything or try to fix anything until it becomes unplayable, I like the character it has and I enjoy the history behind keeping everything original.  I'd love to hear more about  the table though and find if replacement parts are even available should the table become unplayable.  I will post pictures in here of the table sometime tonight once I get off of work.

With that said, we are currently down to one good foosball.  We have three, but two are dented and don't really roll true anymore.  I am looking to get more balls, but am having a hard time identifying which to buy to preserve the current play-style my family knows and loves.  Our current balls are 132mm (1 1/4") and minimally textured.  With the glass top and the minimally textured ball, the game is very fast paced and ball control is very difficult.  I understand from researching that most competitive scenes seem to prefer a slower more controllable ball and surface.  While I appreciate the skill and the technique required to be successful in such foosball games, the style we have on our table is a family staple mark and I don't wish to be the one that changes it.  Despite better judgement I picked up a a 6-pack of foosballs from MCsports.  I have pasted a link to the product below.  I know this link is to a Walmart product, but this is the exact product I bought at MC Sports.  After trying these balls out, I was impressed with the control, but the speed was just too darn slow for our preferred style.  Another cavit was that these are 135mm balls and they barely squeeze through the ball launch.  So we are definitely looking for 132mm fast paced balls.    I will post a picture of our remaining good ball tonight and hopefully that could help identify it.  I also have another pack of 4-foosballs in the mail and hopefully they hit the mark.

Thank you all in advance for your time and hopefully I can get some pictures up for you some and I can get some solid insight into what kind of table this is and what kind of foosballs I need to buy. 

Questions Summary:
1. Looking for any info on a Garlando glass top table believed to be from the early 70's or late 60's.  Pictures to come. 

2.  Need help identifying the foosball type we currently use on the table to preserve current playing conditions.  The table and balls are fast and control is very difficult.  Balls are 132mm white in color and minimally textured. Picture of the ball to come.

Thanks!

Link to Foosballs Purchased at MC Sports: http://www.walmart.com/ip/30154404?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=3&adid=22222222227020605198&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=31264156741&wl4=&wl5=pla&wl6=60669488821&veh=sem     

[alaskan thunder]

http://shop.foosball.com/grippyballkit.html

Order and decide which you like best

[Jax11]

Thanks for that suggestion alaskan thunder, that looks like a great option.  The one question I have in regards to ordering that kit, or a kit like it is the size of the balls.  It seems 34-35mm (1 3/8") is the standard size.  My table actually seems designed for the smaller 32-33mm (1 1/4") foosballs.  Would you be able to tell me the size of the foosballs included in the kit?

I finally had the chance to snap some photos and I have included them .  If there is a "tell-all" shot someone would need to determine the year or model please let me know and I can capture it.

Thanks!