Early History

In 1898 Willie Holt, a well known professional billiard player, philosopher and inventor set up in Burnley in Lancashire manufacturing billiard tables. In 1902 he registered a limited company, Willie Holt (Burnley) Ltd.

Throughout the 20th century the company continued to manufacture tables and other billiard hall furniture with breaks for the first and second world wars when the company manufactured ammunition boxes.

The company also supplied the tables for the 1923 world championships.

In this period Holts also became a substantial billiard hall proprietor and at one point had 46 billiard halls mainly in the north of England.

Rosegrove Factory circa 1910
Rosegrove Factory circa 1910
Advertising Early 1900s
Advertising Early 1900s
Advertising Early 1900s
Advertising Early 1900s
Patent Application 1907
Patent Application 1907
Newspaper clipping 1923 Burnley News
Newspaper clipping 1923 Burnley News
1923 Newspaper clipping World Championship
1923 Newspaper clipping World Championship
1923 Newspaper clipping World Championship
1923 Newspaper clipping World Championship
Company Prospectus 1923
Company Prospectus 1923
1923 Sir Thomas Beecham Presents the Cup
1923 Sir Thomas Beecham Presents the Cup
 

 

The 1980s

In 1978 David Attenborough took the decision that the BBC would televise the World Championship at the Crucible from first ball to last, and this led to an explosion of interest in the 1980s and the creation of the professional circuit as we know it today. With this backdrop the company decided to relocate up the road to larger new premises in Accrington Road in Burnley. A new catalogue was also produced.

Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory
Burnley Factory

During the 1980s “Pot Black” boom the company enjoyed some initial success in manufacturing based on its reputation for quality. The company also continued to manage its own clubs and opened some new clubs . It also ran a substantial billiard table service business and factory accessory shop.

After the initial TV related snooker boom as with many of the older Billiard companies the company failed to sustain a substantial market share in the UK. Faced with stiff competition from rivals Riley from the neighboring town of Accrington and aggressive newcomers such as BCE (Bristol Coin Equipment) the manufacturing side of the business consistently under preformed.

While other “old school” manufacturers such as Clare, Padmore and Thurston survived by merging. Holts were in the end forced to sell a number of clubs to make ends meet.

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