108 shape

I first caught sight of the elusive 108 on the internet some years ago and I’ve wondered about it ever since—how big it was, when it debuted, what lines it appeared it and why it disappeared. It’s so very, very Irish. It’s the largest regular production billiard they’ve ever made. Discounting the House Pipe and (of course) the Giant, which was never a regular production issue.  I’ve wanted to see one in real life for some time and got my wish a few weeks ago, only to notice this two more of them on eBay this week. Wow. Discounting the House Pipe and the Giant (which was never a regular production shape), the 108 is sui generis (you know, it’s own thing). First of all, it’s the largest of the multitude of 100s in the shape group. They’re first seen in the 1906 catalog and have been with us ever since, a few of the numbers even taking on completely different shapes decades later. We all know about the 104, 105, 106 and 107. A few of us know there’s a 101 and a diamond-shank 109. But the 108? I never been much interested in documenting the 100 group because apart from the Chubby 107, there’s nothing remotely Irish about them. They’re just straight billiards, or perhaps straight English-style billiards—which is fine, but I’m just sayin’.  You can put a P-Lip and a nickel or sterling band as visible markers but the design language is still firmly English. The 108, however, is not only larger than the Chubby 107, but more importantly speaks Irish. I know this because I’ve spoken to mine: Mark: An labhraíonn tú Gaeilge? [Do you speak Irish?] Donegal 108: Sea, tá Gaeilge agam. Labhraím Gaeilge Kapp & Peterson! [Yes, I speak Irish. I speak Kapp & Peterson Irish!] What I mean by saying the 108 speaks Irish is three things, all of which make it score higher in my own understanding of K&P’s design language than any other billiard they’ve ever made: First, it’s got a bulldozer of a bowl: big, bold, brazen, bodacious, bellicose—you get the picture. Notice the chin that juts out at the bottom. It’s saying, ‘If you think you’re man enough, take a swing and see what happens.’ Second, it’s got an Irish bend. You notice that slight curve as the stem moves toward the button? That’s Irish, lads. No one else does that but the Irish. I suspect K&P invented this bend but has never consciously said to themselves, “Now that’s the way to bend a Irish straight pipe.” They just know it. It’s in their DNA. Only a straight Irish pipe can have a bend. You get that, right? You’re a Pete Geek, so you know. Finally, it’s got a massive shank. You can’t have a first class, top-drawer Irish design without serious muscle. That’s probably why Jonathan, Kevin and several other of the lads at the factory all pump weight out back during their lunch break while they check…