Legend of Rambow

Mr. Bond

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From another thread:

Q: Did Rambow ever produce cues for any company other than Brunswick, Keefe & Hamer, and himself?

A:
If I recall correctly, Herman Rambow worked for Brunswick from 1915 to 1950. During that time, there was one period in which Rambow left Brunswick, created the Hub cue, and was persuaded to return and again work for Brunswick. I don't recall how long that departure was, and I don't know if he simply worked by himself during that time, or worked at another shop. Of course after 1950 Rambow made cues under his own name until his death in 1967. If there was any time that he worked with/for someone else, it would have been during that "sabbatical" from Brunswick before he retired from there and went out on his own. There was also a mentoring relationship between Rambow and Ray Schuler, but I know of no actual cue collaborations that came out of that relationship.


A:
Herman Rambow left Brunswick and started the Superior Cue Mfg. and Billiard Supply Company in 1921, because he felt that Brunswick was not giving him credit for his idea's. Now between the years of 1921 and 1926 Herman worked on his own, since he left Brunswick and since Brunswick challenged his design of the Hub Cue, Herman had little choice but to sell cues and merchandise either to private individuals or to Brunswick's competition.

In 1925 the dispute between Brunswick and Rambow ended when Herman was awarded a Patent from the US Patent Office (Patent Number 1,527,748), shortly after this also in 1925, Herman signed his Patent Rights over to Brunswick for unknown reason's. Then in 1927 Herman was back working for Brunswick as the Head Foreman for all cue operations, until his retirement in 1950.

During the the Six Year's that Herman worked on his own from 1921 until 1927 documentation of his activities are very scarce, however, cues that were his trade mark appear, made in the same fashion and using the same construction techniques that Herman was known for. One cue style in particular shows up with the name imprints / manufacturing marks of J.E. Came of Boston, and O.L. Briggs Company and that is the Rambow Hub cue. It is certainly possible that these companies purchased these cues from Herman unmarked and that they added their name stamps to them, or it is also possible that they made these cues themselves, however, when you consider that Patent thief was as much a crime then as it is now I would suspect that Herman was involved in some manner. In addition all the Hub Cues I have seen with the Name stamps of other companies appear to have been made during the 1920's, this is due to the location of the weight stamp, and the materials used for joining and building these cues.

Hopefully more information will come to light in the future, and this is the only way to close the book on this conversation.

JIMO


Again - thanks very much for your insight. I will be addressing Herman's time away from Brunswick (highlighted in blue)
 

Mr. Bond

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-Has been edited slightly from original post to reflect new information-

While 'growing up' amongst the Brunswick people, it appears that Herman made friends with two brilliant swedish men by the names of Axel F. Hjort and Charles Lindquist. They were designers, inventors and consultants, and in fact, some of Hjort's patents are pretty darn impressive. A few are listed below:

A machine for ornamenting billiard cues
Permanent clips for fastening cloth to slate
A convertable carom-pocket table with " quick crank on-off rails"

Initially I didn't think that Hjort and Lindquist were actually employed by Brunswick, but it turns out that they were, and apparently they worked closely with Herman for many years. (which probably has a lot to do with them leaving Brunswick together)

For whatever reason, Herman did in fact leave Brunswick. He joined up with his swede amigos (funny term) and they worked together for their company:
Superior Cue Manufacturing & Billiard Supply Co. 214 Institue Place, Chicago

Now, when exactly did Rambow leave? Not sure. [edit - his WWI draft card @1916-17 says he still works for BBCC.]
However, in 1922 something very interesting happened. ~Enter the Ninja~

(beginning in 1857) Albert Pick & Co was a very successful producer of institutional and commercial furniture wares. This included such things as bar equipment etc and eventually a line of billiard tables, cues and accessories. To further their furniture interests they also owned a nationwide chain of hotels and motels. The Picks had money and they were powerful people.

And because they were powerful, they knew - when they entered the billiard market against Brunswick it was going to take big guns. So what did they do? They snatched up the most reputable billiard shop crew in town...Herman and the swedes were now employees of Albert Pick & Co.

1922 July  Rambow and  Albert Pick 2.JPG

Whats interesting is the implication that it could have been the swedes that Rambow actually learned the bulk of his skill from.

Not only that, but it appears that the origin of Rambows reputation as an excellent cue maker actually far preceeds his more recent and well known association with Brunswick and the Titlist.

I can just imagine what happened next: somewhere in some obscure Brunswick corporate office, someone gets a call that they really didnt want to get... ring ring...

" hello? .....yeah hi Bob how are y....wait slow down.....what?...they did what???.....holy sht we have to do something...."

And do something they did. By about 1925 Herman (and the swedes) had somehow been persuaded to not only come back to Brunswick, but to also give up his patents too. That must have been one helluva Christmas bonus.


Doesnt it make you wonder..

somewhere out there is an Albert Pick Rambow Cue?
 
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Mr. Bond

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deleted- I had to pull this and add it to the other post
 
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classiccues

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While 'growing up' amongst the Brunswick people, it appears that Herman made friends with two brilliant swedish men by the names of Axel F. Hjort and Charles Lindquist. They were designers, inventors and consultants, and in fact, some of Hjort's patents are pretty darn impressive. A few are listed below:

A machine for ornamenting billiard cues
Permanent clips for fastening cloth to slate
A convertable carom-pocket table with " quick crank on-off rails"

What isnt very clear at this point is the extent or depth of these swedes' relationship with Brunswick. They did sell their patents to Brunswick, that much is clear, but evidence suggests that, unlike Herman, they weren't actually "employed" by Brunswick at all....they may have already been in business for themselves....it will make more sense in a minute.

For whatever reason, Herman did in fact leave Brunswick. He joined up with his swede amigos (funny term) and they worked together for their company:
Superior Cue Manufacturing & Billiard Supply Co. 214 Institue Place, Chicago

Now, when exactly did Rambow leave? Not sure.
However, in 1922 something very interesting happened. ~Enter the Ninja~

(beginning in 1892) Albert Pick & Co was a very successful producer of institutional and commercial furniture wares. This included such things as bar equipment etc and eventually a line of billiard tables, cues and accessories. To further their furniture interests they also owned a nationwide chain of hotels and motels. The Picks had money and they were powerful people.

And because they were powerful, they knew - when they entered the billiard market against Brunswick it was going to take big guns. So what did they do? They snatched up the most reputable billiard shop crew in town...Herman and the swedes were now employees of Albert Pick & Co.

View attachment 171268

What's interesting is the implication that these men had been in business together for FORTY YEARS? How long could Rambow have worked for them?
Whats also interesting is the implication that it was with the swedes, not with Brunswick, that Rambow actually would have received the bulk of his skill building experience...

Not only that, but it appears that the origin of Rambows reputation as an excellent cue maker actually far preceeds his more recent and well known association with Brunswick and the Titlist.

I can just imagine what happened next: somewhere in some obscure Brunswick corporate office, someone gets a call that they really didnt want to get... ring ring...

" hello? .....yeah hi Bob how are y....wait slow down.....what?...they did what???.....holy sht we have to do something...."

And do something they did. By 1925 Herman had somehow been persuaded to not only come back to Brunswick, but to also give up his patents too. That must have been one helluva Christmas bonus.


Doesnt it make you wonder..

somewhere out there is an Albert Pick Rambow Cue?

Thats very interesting. His first patent is for knurling a handle, and it shows how far we have come in the world of cues.

JV
 

hunger strike

AzB Silver Member
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Man, this is some great history brother!!!!

Thank you so much for presenting this information. Many collectors have been wondering about this. You have done us all a favor sir.
 

Mr. Bond

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Follow up information:

"Famous for Forty Years" What does that mean?

Its not that "Superior Cue" was famous for 40 years of service, because it only existed for a short time. The statement about being famous is simply pointing out the fact that Herman and the swedes had worked together (and were well known) previously for many decades. (at Brunswick)

But the truth of the matter is, Rambow himself was only about 40 at the time, so technically he was the newbie. It was the swedes that had actually been around 40 years.

Again - it seems to be a fairly clear answer as to where -or from whom- Herman learned his cue mastery.
 
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Mr. Bond

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When exactly did Rambow leave Brunswick...?
(and when was the company "Superior Cue Mfg " born)

1910 - From census records we know that Rambow was in Chicago and we know that his buddy Hjort was in Chicago. Presumably both working for Brunswick at the time.

1918- Rambow in Chicago, and according to WWI draft card, still works for Brunswick.

1919 - During this period, something changed.
Hjort has moved to Michigan...
Rambow appears to have quit working for Brunswick...

1920 - Hjort can now be found in Muskegon Michigan working at the Brunswick factory there.
Rambow is still in Chicago, but the census appears to say that he is a painter.

1920 census rambows job.JPG

Since he isnt working for Brunswick, perhaps he took a painters job just to pay the bills?

1921 - It seems to be during this year that Rambow, Hjort and Lindquist created the Superior Cue Co. News of their business probably spread around town fairly quickly, prompting Albert Pick to take advantage of the situation.

UPDATE: This snippet was found in the October 1921 Billiards Magazine: (considering a possible 1 month delay of the news being published) This would place the creation of the new company in September or early October 1921.
20160108_130933~2.jpg

This snippet was found in the Dec 1921 Billiards Magazine:
Herman Rambow Dec 1921.jpg


1922 - aprox July - Superior Cue Manufacturing is 'bought out' by Albert Pick & Co.

1923 - Chicago directory says: Rambow, Herman - billiard mngr. (this would presumably be for Pick)

conclusion: Rambow left Brunswick aprox 1919. Superior formed aprox Sept-Oct 1921.
 
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Mr. Bond

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I also wonder what he painted...

and what is the word next to painter on the census...lol....

left side is for "job". right side is supposed to be for what "industry".

an example might be: cue maker / sporting goods
 
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DogsPlayingPool

"What's in your wallet?"
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I also wonder what he painted...

and what is the word next to painter on the census...lol....

left side is for "job". right side is supposed to be for what "industry".

an example might be: cue maker / sporting goods

The word on the right seems to read "fixture".
 

manwon

"WARLOCK 1"
Silver Member
-Has been edited slightly from original post to reflect new information-

While 'growing up' amongst the Brunswick people, it appears that Herman made friends with two brilliant swedish men by the names of Axel F. Hjort and Charles Lindquist. They were designers, inventors and consultants, and in fact, some of Hjort's patents are pretty darn impressive. A few are listed below:

A machine for ornamenting billiard cues
Permanent clips for fastening cloth to slate
A convertable carom-pocket table with " quick crank on-off rails"

Initially I didn't think that Hjort and Lindquist were actually employed by Brunswick, but it turns out that they were, and apparently they worked closely with Herman for many years. (which probably has a lot to do with them leaving Brunswick together)

For whatever reason, Herman did in fact leave Brunswick. He joined up with his swede amigos (funny term) and they worked together for their company:
Superior Cue Manufacturing & Billiard Supply Co. 214 Institue Place, Chicago

Now, when exactly did Rambow leave? Not sure. [edit - his WWI draft card @1916-17 says he still works for BBCC.]
However, in 1922 something very interesting happened. ~Enter the Ninja~

(beginning in 1857) Albert Pick & Co was a very successful producer of institutional and commercial furniture wares. This included such things as bar equipment etc and eventually a line of billiard tables, cues and accessories. To further their furniture interests they also owned a nationwide chain of hotels and motels. The Picks had money and they were powerful people.

And because they were powerful, they knew - when they entered the billiard market against Brunswick it was going to take big guns. So what did they do? They snatched up the most reputable billiard shop crew in town...Herman and the swedes were now employees of Albert Pick & Co.

View attachment 171268

Whats interesting is the implication that it could have been the swedes that Rambow actually learned the bulk of his skill from.

Not only that, but it appears that the origin of Rambows reputation as an excellent cue maker actually far preceeds his more recent and well known association with Brunswick and the Titlist.

I can just imagine what happened next: somewhere in some obscure Brunswick corporate office, someone gets a call that they really didnt want to get... ring ring...

" hello? .....yeah hi Bob how are y....wait slow down.....what?...they did what???.....holy sht we have to do something...."

And do something they did. By about 1925 Herman (and the swedes) had somehow been persuaded to not only come back to Brunswick, but to also give up his patents too. That must have been one helluva Christmas bonus.


Doesnt it make you wonder..

somewhere out there is an Albert Pick Rambow Cue?



Thanks for adding this information, I appreciate the time this type of research requires.

Where did you find the association between Superior Cue Mfk and Albert Pick Company?

Thanks Craig
 

DogsPlayingPool

"What's in your wallet?"
Silver Member
You know, thats what I have always thought. It just doesnt make all the sense in the world. A painter at a fixture company? I guess its possible but its a little odd.

I thought so too, wondering if it was a lamp/lighting company or something. Perhaps it was just a more commonly used word back then (like five & dime or apothecary), and was meant to include furniture, cabinets, etc. i.e. furnishings and fixtures.
 

Mr. Bond

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Thanks for adding this information, I appreciate the time this type of research requires.

Where did you find the association between Superior Cue Mfk and Albert Pick Company?

Thanks Craig

Youre more than welcome, it was my pleasure.

The announcement I posted appeared in the July 1922 edition of Billiards Magazine.

Just prior to 1920 Albert Pick was facing a dilema. They produced large quantities of bar equipment - but prohibition was on the way in and they knew it. They needed to shift their production to other things like soda fountains and billiard room goods.

At the end of the 1910s and in the early 20's Pick & Co saturated the market with all things billiards, trying to achieve a Brunswick-like status. (Hence the aggresive move to acquire Herman and the swedes.)

Alas, their power-plays made no difference in the end. Herman left anyway, and the billiard market crashed anyway.

...and the rest, as they say, is history
 

Mr. Bond

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An interesting question:

This was published in the Chicago Tribune Feb 6, 1968:

[Herman]...got his start on the road to cue making fame in 1922 when on a rush order he turned out a stick for World Champion Alfredo De Oro.


1. De'Oro didnt play any major tourneys in Chicago in 1922. Why would he have been in Chicago, in desperate need of a cue?

He did play a match in Milwaukee in January. Perhaps he bolted to Chicago for a new cue?

2. Rambow, as previously discussed, didn't work for Brunswick at the time.
If the story is even true, DeOro would have purchased his cue from Superior Cue Mnfg...or Albert Pick.

3. Again, if the story is even true, Rambow didn't "start" getting famous in 1922, he was already famous by 1922.
 
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Rich93

A Small Time Charlie
Silver Member
Mr. Bond probably already replied to this in another thread, but Rambow did work for a firm other than Brunswick, and that was Keefe & Hamer, a billiard supply company located at 17 N. Wabash in Chicago. He made cues in the large backroom of their store. I'm not sure when he started to work for them, but for sure it was after he retired from Brunswick. I met him at Keefe & Hamer in 1964 or 1965 when he made a cue for me.

When I ordered the cue I didn't get to talk to him. My impression was that the K&H people kept him away from customers to the extent they could and kept him hard at work in the backroom. However, when I went to pick up the cue he was the only one in the store and I got to meet him then. He brought me back into his shop and started talking, and didn't stop for a half hour or so. I understood then why the K&H people kept him locked away.

I was only 16 or 17 and my memory of that conversation is pretty hazy, but he told me about making cues for Mosconi and other greats of the game. He showed me a cue that was in for repair - Mr. P.K. Wrigley's cue. He talked about how his eyesight was still very strong, how he checked a cue for straightness (sighted down the cue), how he still played very well (with his grandchildren). I believe he also advised me to use fine steel wool on the shaft instead of sandpaper. He showed me some of his equipment that I believe he said he made himself. I wish I could play back that conversation - I'd appreciate it a lot more today.

Anyway, he seemed like a very nice man. He was well into his 80's when I met him and he died a couple of years later. I wish I still had that cue but I sold it when I gave up pool for college. I do remember it cost $50 and came with two shafts - had my name on the butt and my initials on the shafts. It would be worth a few thousand today, I'm sure.
 

manwon

"WARLOCK 1"
Silver Member
Mr. Bond probably already replied to this in another thread, but Rambow did work for a firm other than Brunswick, and that was Keefe & Hamer, a billiard supply company located at 17 N. Wabash in Chicago. He made cues in the large backroom of their store. I'm not sure when he started to work for them, but for sure it was after he retired from Brunswick. I met him at Keefe & Hamer in 1964 or 1965 when he made a cue for me.

When I ordered the cue I didn't get to talk to him. My impression was that the K&H people kept him away from customers to the extent they could and kept him hard at work in the backroom. However, when I went to pick up the cue he was the only one in the store and I got to meet him then. He brought me back into his shop and started talking, and didn't stop for a half hour or so. I understood then why the K&H people kept him locked away.

I was only 16 or 17 and my memory of that conversation is pretty hazy, but he told me about making cues for Mosconi and other greats of the game. He showed me a cue that was in for repair - Mr. P.K. Wrigley's cue. He talked about how his eyesight was still very strong, how he checked a cue for straightness (sighted down the cue), how he still played very well (with his grandchildren). I believe he also advised me to use fine steel wool on the shaft instead of sandpaper. He showed me some of his equipment that I believe he said he made himself. I wish I could play back that conversation - I'd appreciate it a lot more today.

Anyway, he seemed like a very nice man. He was well into his 80's when I met him and he died a couple of years later. I wish I still had that cue but I sold it when I gave up pool for college. I do remember it cost $50 and came with two shafts - had my name on the butt and my initials on the shafts. It would be worth a few thousand today, I'm sure.


Thats some great information Rich, while many of us did know he worked for them, I doubt many actually ordered a cue from them like you did. You insight into this subject is valuable when considering little known facts, I also suspect you are right that Keefe & Hamer did keep Herman separated from the customers as much as possible. In this way they could ensure that they would get their cut since they represented him, and also so no special deals were made that they were not aware of.

Great Story Rich, thanks for sharing.
 

Mr. Bond

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Rich I'm curious - how did you know, at that relatively young age, that you should get a cue from Rambow? A friend? Relative?

Trying to gain a better understanding of his reputation at the time...

A typical 17 yr old today wouldnt know Rambow from Rice
 

Rich93

A Small Time Charlie
Silver Member
Rich I'm curious - how did you know, at that relatively young age, that you should get a cue from Rambow? A friend? Relative?

Trying to gain a better understanding of his reputation at the time...

A typical 17 yr old today wouldnt know Rambow from Rice

The place where I played as a kid was Beverly Bowl at 94th and Ashland. I lived only two blocks from there. The co-manager of the place was a crusty but benign old guy named Alex, and it was Alex that told me about Rambow. I must have said to him that I was looking to buy a better cue, and he told me that the best cuemaker in the country was right here in Chicago and where to find him. I think he also told me that Herman was getting pretty old so I better hurry, and I did.

As for his reputation - he was a big name and had been for a long long time. I don't know whether he was truly the best in 1964 - doubtful, given his age. However, I suspect - though I don't know this for a fact - that Mosconi was still using a Rambow then. He certainly was using one just a few years before when The Hustler was made, because the cues in that movie were Rambows and I believe Willie obtained them for the movie. The cue Rambow made for me looked exactly like the cues you see in the movie, except it had my name and "Made by Rambow" in his script on it.
 
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DogsPlayingPool

"What's in your wallet?"
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Rich I'm curious - how did you know, at that relatively young age, that you should get a cue from Rambow? A friend? Relative?

Trying to gain a better understanding of his reputation at the time...

A typical 17 yr old today wouldnt know Rambow from Rice

I can answer that because I grew up in Chicago around the same time. And if you played pool in Chicago in the 60's you knew who Herman Rambow was and wanted one of his cues. Didn't matter what age you were, you knew about Rambow. I lusted after one myself until one summer I was in California and hit a cue by a new local L.A. cue maker named Ernie Gutierrez.
 
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