Elvis may have left the building long ago, but a Bay City company plans to put him back in rec rooms across the country.
Game-table maker Shelti Inc., 333 Morton St., is producing a line of Elvis-themed pool tables with the blessing of Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc.
The tables feature wrap-around graphics of The King performing in his "White Jumpsuit" Las Vegas show days. The images also show casinos and the Las Vegas welcome sign.
The unusual new product has led to a few Elvis quips around the office, according to Annette Jeske, customer service representative for Shelti. Such as whether or not to use the company intercom to announce "Elvis has left the building" - a catch phrase once used at the end of Elvis concerts - every time a table ships, she said.
Jeske said Thursday that Shelti plans to make 500 of the limited-edition tables under contract with Lordsvale Sales USA, a New Jersey company.
Lordsvale President Freddy Bailey said his company chose Shelti to make the tables because of the company's reputation for quality. Bailey said he remembers Shelti when it operated as the former Valley Recreation Products in Bay City.
"For me, it was a natural thing to come to Bay City, a city that has been associated with the coin-operated pool industry since the creation of the American coin-operated pool table in the mid -1950s," Bailey said in an e-mail to The Times.
Shelti was founded in 2001 at the same site in Bay City after the closure of Valley Recreation.
About two dozen Elvis tables have rolled off the production line at Shelti since late November, and the remainder will likely be finished in 2009, Jeske said. The tables are for home use and don't require coins to operate.
Each table features burgundy felt on the playing surface and anchors a larger Elvis pool-table package. The set includes a Tiffany style lamp with Elvis images and his name in large letters, an Elvis pool cue rack with cues and a serial number with name plate for the purchaser.
The package will retail for $5,995, and Shelti is offering a discount to local buyers this month, Jeske said. The tables will be sold through Lordsvale, as well as through Shelti dealers and Shelti's Web sales arm, recrooms.com.
Five tables have been sold since the product was unveiled at a recent trade show in Florida, Jeske said.
Jeske said Shelti has made pool tables featuring sports team logos in the past, but the Elvis model is the first time they have made a table based on a person.
Elvis himself was a pool player, and his Graceland mansion features a billiards room that still contains his personal table. Now, Shelti hopes others will want to rack 'em up with The King.
"We know there's a niche for it, because Elvis is the No. 1 money making dead person," she said. "His audience is age 8 to 80."


Source: elvisnews.com

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Two years ago, EPE agreed to an Elvis pool table - now here's a second Elvis pool table with different pictures. Target price is 6.995 $US. From the manufacturer's description: "In the 1950’s, Rock N’ Roll sensation Elvis Presley took the world's music scene by storm. With his dashing good looks and incomparable sound and style, Elvis captured the hearts of millions worldwide. Having sold over 1 billion records, more than any other artist, Elvis solidified his place in music history. Manufactured by Lordsvale LLC. THIS MACHINE COMES WITH THE KING OF ALL WARRANTIES, a 5 YEAR LIMITED WARRANTY! With only one thousand beautifully crafted customer pool tables being made, purchase your own piece of Rock N’ Roll history with this Elvis Presley Platinum Limited Edition Pool Table Package.

The Limited Edition Elvis Presley Platinum Pool Table Package is perfect for the Elvis Presley enthusiasts as well as billiard lovers. This is a limited edition package; only 1,000 of these will be distributed.


Limited Edition Elvis Presley Platinum Pool Table Package includes:

• Limited Edition Elvis Presley Pool Table:

Features:

 Championship Cloth.

 One-piece Slate.

 Pro-Am Cushion Rubber.

 Ball Rack.

 Ball Return.

 Molded Legs with Levelers.

 Magnetic Cue Ball Separator. A magnetic device separates the cue ball from the other balls. The cue ball returns to the breaking end of the table.

 Size: 93 ¼”L x 53 ¼”W x 32”H Weight: 675 lbs.

 Cabinet Apron Height: 17 ½”


• Elvis Light Fixture: Tiffany style pool table light featuring Elvis images and ornate Elvis name. Three long-life bulbs are included. 39”L x 14”W

• Elvis Cover: Quality heavy-duty cover branded with the Elvis Presley signature product logo.

• Elvis Wall-Mount Cue Rack: Holds eight cues and a set of balls. Towel holder. Convenient score keeping. Cone chalk holder. Official serial plate. 54 1/2”L x 33 ¾”W

• Elvis 2 Piece Cues and Cases: Image of Elvis below the grip and red Elvis signature above. Set of 4 cues and 4 cases included.

• Personalized and Signed certificate of authenticity mounted on a plaque.

• Additional Accessories Included:

o 1 set of Aramith Pool Balls.

o Black wooden 8-ball and 9-ball cue racks.

o Rail brush.

o Chalk.

o Detailed manual.



Source: epgold.com

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