Please join us in celebrating Ilona Balner's (Palmer Cue's) 90th birthday!
- Thread starter TATE
- Start date
First mother of cuemaking
Happy Birthday ol girl and thanks for contributing, with pride and integrity, some of the most memorial sticks in the history of the golden age era of cue making. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILONA! You deserve great recognition to some truely stellar work. . the pool gods/community will always remember and smile on you.
Canwin
Happy Birthday ol girl and thanks for contributing, with pride and integrity, some of the most memorial sticks in the history of the golden age era of cue making. HAPPY BIRTHDAY ILONA! You deserve great recognition to some truely stellar work. . the pool gods/community will always remember and smile on you.
Canwin
Happy Birthday!
I only briefly 'owned' a Palmer back in 1968 while working part time at a local pool room. All I had to do was work off the $50 that the room owner wanted for it. Unfortunately, I was just a flakey 15 year old, and didn't stick with it. It was a wonderful cue stick, and it is one of my life's regrets that I don't still have it.
I only briefly 'owned' a Palmer back in 1968 while working part time at a local pool room. All I had to do was work off the $50 that the room owner wanted for it. Unfortunately, I was just a flakey 15 year old, and didn't stick with it. It was a wonderful cue stick, and it is one of my life's regrets that I don't still have it.
I like that - The First Lady of Cue Making!
We can thank Joe Van Buren for the 'First lady of Cue Making" moniker! Nothing could be more appropriate.
I became a Palmer fan when I received two of the original Model 6 cues from the first catalog, a simple Titleist conversion with a big window butt. Since then, I've owned many Palmer's.
In addition to the craftsmanship in Palmer's shop and innovations, I was fascinated by the Palmer connection to the other greats of cue making. Legends like George Balabushka, who did leather wraps for Palmer and bought parts from them, Gus Szamboti, who made forearms for Palmer and also did leather wraps, Burton Spain, who also sold parts and wrote of the tips he received in machine set-up from Palmer, Bob Meucci, who made the vinyl "veneered" WICO blanks. And of course, Frank Paradise, whose many innovative designs influenced Palmer's earliest cues.
When I created the Palmercollector website, I had never done a website before. I was so excited to get started and I was groping for information. I just started to catalog things.
Then after the site was up for awhile, I recall being on vacation in Hawaii, and getting a e-mail from Peter Balner, introducing himself. I was so excited, I couldn't see straight. He spent a lot of time with me on the history of Palmer clearing up the clouds and patiently answering my every question. This was an exciting moment - to hear it myself from the man himself.
Since then, I've corresponded with many of the Balner family. There are no finer people as far as I'm concerned. The Balner's fled a country torn by civil war, to bravely set foot on US soil to become a family that has successfully gone to the top of several industries here.
From now on, when I pick up an old Palmer and see the original Cortland or Blue Mountain linen, I remind myself that this wrap and those inlays were done by the gentle touch of the First Lady of Cue Making.
Happy 90th Birthday Ilona!
Chris
We can thank Joe Van Buren for the 'First lady of Cue Making" moniker! Nothing could be more appropriate.
I became a Palmer fan when I received two of the original Model 6 cues from the first catalog, a simple Titleist conversion with a big window butt. Since then, I've owned many Palmer's.
In addition to the craftsmanship in Palmer's shop and innovations, I was fascinated by the Palmer connection to the other greats of cue making. Legends like George Balabushka, who did leather wraps for Palmer and bought parts from them, Gus Szamboti, who made forearms for Palmer and also did leather wraps, Burton Spain, who also sold parts and wrote of the tips he received in machine set-up from Palmer, Bob Meucci, who made the vinyl "veneered" WICO blanks. And of course, Frank Paradise, whose many innovative designs influenced Palmer's earliest cues.
When I created the Palmercollector website, I had never done a website before. I was so excited to get started and I was groping for information. I just started to catalog things.
Then after the site was up for awhile, I recall being on vacation in Hawaii, and getting a e-mail from Peter Balner, introducing himself. I was so excited, I couldn't see straight. He spent a lot of time with me on the history of Palmer clearing up the clouds and patiently answering my every question. This was an exciting moment - to hear it myself from the man himself.
Since then, I've corresponded with many of the Balner family. There are no finer people as far as I'm concerned. The Balner's fled a country torn by civil war, to bravely set foot on US soil to become a family that has successfully gone to the top of several industries here.
From now on, when I pick up an old Palmer and see the original Cortland or Blue Mountain linen, I remind myself that this wrap and those inlays were done by the gentle touch of the First Lady of Cue Making.
Happy 90th Birthday Ilona!
Chris
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Happy Birthday Mrs. Balner!
I can still remember coming home from school and seeing your Silver Shadow Rolls Royce in front of my parents house. That used to make
everyone look twice.
You and your family have always had the respect of my family. You always will, and I will pass it on to my children too.
I wish you much happiness on such a great day!
Barry Szamboti
I can still remember coming home from school and seeing your Silver Shadow Rolls Royce in front of my parents house. That used to make
everyone look twice.
You and your family have always had the respect of my family. You always will, and I will pass it on to my children too.
I wish you much happiness on such a great day!
Barry Szamboti
Just got a note from Peter...
" Please thank everyone for their good wishes. My mother is in excellent health and having a good time in retirement. She visits her favorite casino in Arizona at least twice a week. She has a system for the slots and manages to win more often than lose."
Thanks to everybody for responding - Ilona may be retired but she is not forgotten in the world of billiards!
" Please thank everyone for their good wishes. My mother is in excellent health and having a good time in retirement. She visits her favorite casino in Arizona at least twice a week. She has a system for the slots and manages to win more often than lose."
Thanks to everybody for responding - Ilona may be retired but she is not forgotten in the world of billiards!
Happy Birthday Ilona, may you have many more to come!
Good thread Tate!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
Good thread Tate!
Many Regards,
Lock N Load.
cledussnow
Registered
Just found this forum, and this thread.
The only cue I've ever owned is a Palmer my father bought for me on my 8th birthday in 1977.
I have never had much luck finding anything about it, and it is nice to finally learn a few things about the makers of this great cue. (Happy belated birthday!!)
Thanks for a great forum!
The only cue I've ever owned is a Palmer my father bought for me on my 8th birthday in 1977.
I have never had much luck finding anything about it, and it is nice to finally learn a few things about the makers of this great cue. (Happy belated birthday!!)
Thanks for a great forum!
Happy Birthday
Being from NJ I was around a lot of Palmer cues and had one myself.
They made some great cues.
Being from NJ I was around a lot of Palmer cues and had one myself.
They made some great cues.
Happy Happy
Happy birthday Ilona. Many more to you.
Happy birthday Ilona. Many more to you.
Happy birthday, Mrs. Balner.
I replaced a butt cap on a Palmer cue once, and it occurred to me that you and I have something in common in that we both had touched that same pool cue.
We all breath the same air, don't we?
All the best, Ma'am.
I replaced a butt cap on a Palmer cue once, and it occurred to me that you and I have something in common in that we both had touched that same pool cue.
We all breath the same air, don't we?
All the best, Ma'am.