A Visit to Aladdin's Cave

(Teignmouth Gardens)

Jack is seen holding a rare copy of, 'The Noble Game of Billiards', a French book by a M. Mingaud published in 1834.

On Monday 20th August I visited a Billiards enthusiast's Aladdin's Cave. It is situated in Teignmouth Gardens, Greenford, Middlesex. There is no need of a genie and a magic lamp, for the real Billiards enthusiast it is sufficient to make a telephone call when, by prior arrangement, the door to the Cave will be opened by the geni(e)al and hospitable Mr. Jack Ben-Nathan. And what a treasure house of Billiards and Snooker Memorabilia and Literature. Hundreds of books, the Classics of White, Kentfield, Dufton, Mannock and Roberts, the complete works of Riso Levi, little known and rare books by names familiar only to the cognoscenti. Complete collections of magazines including a fine one of "The Billiard Player, " and there can't be many of those about. Antique marking boards, a miniature mountain of ivories, a fine old Billiards/Diner, dozens of named cues and one un-named one made of inlaid ivory from but to tip, old cases, a mace. Dozens of old Prints, postcards, cigarette cards, programmes, and photographs.

There can hardly be any facet of the game's history that Jack could not hold forth on and produce chapter and verse. And what conversation; my scheduled short visit of an hour or so stretched to nearly three as, fortified with a lager or two, I listened fascinated by Ben-Nathan's chat and anecdotes of his collection and the collections of a select group of like-minded enthusiasts. But the conversation was not all one-sided, Jack has a skilled way of drawing his guest into the chat, he is as good a listener as talker and made me feel more than anyone else has ever done that my own efforts in the game, both as player and writer, are more important than they in fact are.

Jack Ben-Nathan is not himself a player of any note though he enjoys a frame or two of snooker when a busy schedule allows time, but his love of the game and its history is beyond any question, an interest and love sparked by a fascination with shot diagrams in some books belonging to his father. Jack, of course, is a part-time dealer in Billiards and Snooker Books and other items connected with the game, but there are books on his library shelves which he would not sell at any price and which he handles with reverence. Forget about new lamps for old; Aladdin's cave is in Greenford where the lucky visitor may be given a guided tour by the Genie himself.