So I finally got a reasonably priced copy of Billiards As it should be Played by Willie Hoppe printed in 1941. I payed 30 bucks on ebay and it was totally worth it. What immediately struck me was his cue it is slightly different than any of the Brunswick Titlist Hoppe cues I have seen. I figured you folks would enjoy the photos.
The reason that cue is different is because it was customized for Willie by Herman Rambow. The extra section that looks jointed was most likely where weight was added for balance, or to shorten the cue for different Billiards games.
All I can say for certain is that any cue that Willie used publicly was modified by Rambow. Willie Hoppe and many others were sponsored by Brunswick and part of that sponsorship was using Brunswick's equipment, tables, balls, cues and anything else Pool or Billiards related.
When Rambow quit working for Brunswick in the 1920 and started Superior Billiards he lost all his famous clients, this was during the time that he invented and patented the Hub Cue. Herman was forced out of business by Brunswick just a few years after he started his company and ended up going back to work for Brunswick. Again from this point until his retirement he was the only man who modified cues for those sponsored by Brunswick.
So plainly and without a doubt the cue pictured was built or modified for Willie Hoppe by Herman Rambow.
Hope this helps and by the way nice pictures.