I don't think a Chemnitz resident has to hide for his city

Marco Lohmann

The company has survived world wars and economic crises and the "balls are still rolling". Billiard-Krausse in Chemnitz has been manufacturing billiard tables for 128 years. The billiard manufacturer is probably the oldest company of its kind still in existence in Germany, probably even in Europe. It manufactures billiard tables in all variants - including pool billiards, carom billiards, skittles billiards, billiard tables for Russian pyramid, snooker, but also hole billiards for children. The company also offers advice and services relating to this popular game.
owner Marco Lohmann, who took over the company in 2007, is constantly working on new ideas to improve the products even further. For us, the company at Carolastrasse 5 is the maker of the week.

Marco Lohmann: That was actually a coincidence. I started working part-time as a master carpenter in 2004. In my company at the time, it was no longer possible to build a masterpiece. So I asked our teacher at the Chamber of Crafts if he knew where I could build my masterpiece. The teacher came to me the following week and told me that he knew a particular joinery that was looking for a successor. It would be no problem to build the masterpiece there. When I met Hans-Jörg Ritscher, my predecessor at Billard-Krausse, and he told me about his plan, the decision was made as to which piece of furniture I would use for my master's examination. I built a billiard table.

You could also have built cabinets - where did the fascination with billiards come from?
A billiard table is just as much a piece of furniture as a cabinet and is very demanding from a carpentry point of view. The stone top and the cover are what make the piece of furniture into the billiard table as we know it. The task of building a piece of furniture for which there is no training was also appealing. Everything you see here has been handed down or passed on from generation to generation. There are no training courses for building, covering and the technical aspects of the table.

How long does it take to build a pool table?
A billiard table can take anywhere from two to six weeks to build.

Are there any unusual requests for the construction of such tables?
In our manufactory, billiard tables are designed, manufactured and equipped according to customer requirements. For example, the billiard table can be converted into a dining table, conference table or presentation table with just a few simple steps using matching cover plates.

Surely your customers come from all corners of Germany?
A fortnight ago, I was a hundred kilometres from Warnemünde and delivered a pool table and a skittles table there. All customised, of course.

"Thanks to modernisation and new, innovative process technologies, as well as the breakthrough in the gang issue, we have full order books, even in difficult economic times." What do you mean by innovative process technologies and the breakthrough in the gang issue?"
You have to differentiate between private customers, which we've already talked about, and the clubs (from local to national league) that we serve. Take bowling billiards, for example. The game is widespread throughout the East and used to be played in every pub. The rubber cushion plays a very important role in this form of billiards. After reunification, the Gummikombinat from Waltershausen was liquidated by the Treuhand, and the documents and moulds were also destroyed. The rubber bands from the pool tables were also built into the bowling billiard tables, but could not fulfil the requirements of the competitive players who played at a higher level. After 20 years of development - my predecessor had also tinkered with it - we achieved the breakthrough in 2013 with the help of a rubber manufacturer from Hanover and the local clubs, who served as test subjects, to produce more precise cushion systems. We are now at the point where we can say: the rubber is here to stay.
Our success has proven us right: the German Bowling Billiard Championships were recently held in Wusterwitz/Brandenburg on our billiard tables. Results were achieved that had never been seen before. Ultimately, private customers also benefit from this development. If a customer wants a skittles billiard table for their home, we install the same rails as for clubs.

In 1886, Robert Krausse founded the billiard factory on Brückenstraße. Two world wars later and after the division of Germany, people in the West mainly played carom billiards and increasingly also pool, which the American soldiers brought with them. In the East, carom and skittles billiards had also established themselves.

Are people from Chemnitz actually surprised to find something so unique here?
Many people come by and say: Oh, you're still here. Billiard-Krausse was already well known to the people of Chemnitz and they still remember us fondly today. They come to us with questions about billiards. Whether it's a cue repair, when a new leather is required or when something is broken.

Is Chemnitz a billiard stronghold?
When it comes to skittles and pool, yes.

Do you know how many tables you have already built?
Building new tables is one thing, remodelling and restoration is another. We repair and refurbish many billiard tables, which are then as good as new.

Have the snooker broadcasts on Eurosport increased the number of amateur players?
One or two people have come and bought a snooker cue after watching it on TV. That already happened. Every month, someone comes along who has found a taste for the sport again and wants to play. That's how we notice it.

One particular highlight was certainly your indirect participation in the Raab TV duel. How did that come about?
(Marco Lohmann looks at his accreditation) Exactly on 22 September 2012. The organisers are always looking for new games in which the challenger duels with Stefan Raab. There was already pool, so bowling billiards was shortlisted. During the TV production's research, they came across the Saxon Billiards Association and when they asked for a table, they referred them to us. The difficulty was that the table had to be set up within 30 seconds during the live broadcast. I was very sceptical at first. But thanks to our special design, we were able to transport the table into the hall using a pallet truck. The programme was a great experience.

Do you play billiards yourself?
Not enough. Just as a hobby. I didn't come to the company through billiards, but through my profession as a carpenter. I've always enjoyed doing special things, tinkering and trying things out. I just didn't have the time.

Three years ago, on 1 March 2011, Billard-Krausse was honoured for its 125th company anniversary. Does that make you proud?
Around 1900, there were eleven billiard manufacturers in Chemnitz. All the others left and we stayed. That makes us proud.

Would your company be able to survive in another city?
With our expertise, we could theoretically continue our company in another Saxon city. As most of the billiard players live between Cape Arkona and Fichtelberg.

If I want to put a pool table in my flat, how much do I pay for it?
Pool tables with a small footprint are available from 295 euros. A pool table with a stone top starts at 2500 euros for maximum playing comfort.

Our standard question in the maker interviews: Do you have to encourage the people of Chemnitz?
When I'm travelling in Germany and say where I come from: Everyone knows Chemnitz. That's nice. With the Karl Marx head, which is recognisable. Many people come to Chemnitz to work, because the city's economy is very strong. I don't think a Chemnitz resident has to hide for their city.