12squared said:

Yes, American Vinyl Products was a successful business creating all sorts of vinyl products for packaging of accessories for many companies. I think George created the cue cases to create a job for Al, they were very good friends.

I went to their shop to pick out my first case and got the grand tour, you would not believe the companies they worked with (I think Barbie was one).

I met George in 1976 when I moved to California. He was a great guy who did a lot for people and, as you all know, he did so much for 3 cushion in the . He had the best penmanship and his tournament boards were a work of art. He will be missed <sigh>. RIP George.

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Interesting
I've had some American Vinyl Products cases in fact I have one now I think

garczar said:

The ADAM Japan shop is pretty small and far from 'mass production'. Totally lo-volume hand made cues. Their standard line cues are made in China at the Hamson/Universal plant. Those Kenbu cues for around 12-1500bux look really nice. Classic designs.

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True. "Mass produced" has to be taken right. "Hand made" is another term that needs to be taken right. Rows of automated lathes can make dowels, but the final turnings are on lathes with human hands running them, even in the higher volume factories. I think the biggest differences are made with tolerances, quality of materials, and quality control. More about eyes and brains than hands. Nobody is really successfully making cues on wood lathes "by hand" anymore except in places like Pampanga. A cue maker needs to know how to program and troubleshoot CNC machines today. Guys like Abe Rich and George Balabushka with their wood lathes are gone and their tools and methods are mostly curiosity and history today.

I still call Rolex mass produced and fans don't like that. They didn't even make their own movements until fairly recently, they bought them. Then they bought the movement manufacturer. They are great watches, mainly utilitarian tools at their heart. Dressing them up does not change that but they are commonly blinged out both from the factory and by the aftermarket. If you have an older Rolex, you probably shouldn't send it for factory service, they likely will refuse it, but if they work on it they are likely to destroy the value by replacing things like dial or hands for cosmetic reasons.

So, anyway, yes, the Adam Japan shop is "low volume", but Adam became a multinational cue manufacturing giant, and that is what I was speaking of in general.

billiardshot said:

How are the U.S. 3C org. doing Today????

I believed there might be 2 or 3 Origination today??

We can ask...
1. Tournaments
2. Membership
3. Promoting

A course we know youth (junior) is weak!!!! But what about our Female 3C players?????

I know Carom Cafe Doing it Best!! Are the other 3C rooms doing, anythings!!!?

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It has been a failure to try to convince any other pool rooms in Massachusetts to buy a single carom table. I’ve been trying for about 7 years.

I would guess that the quality of the shaft wood is the biggest factor on warping . Leaning it against the wall ....all bets are off .

chuckg

I second the perimeter light. Pricey but well worth it. I recommend getting one with color adjustment and dimming. These lights are far superior to those center of the table lights. Compare my light to the one posted above. Take note of the shadows. Straight down.

Hard as my ex wife’s heart

Guess 1: Durometer Shore A 85
Guess 2: “It’s soo hard.”

Just what CC said, a McD Merry Widow for a buck or 2, used.

I give up, how hard is it?

. . . not a middleman? WTF.

dr_dave said:

I think I have seen it happen only once in my 20 years of playing in league.

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In the last 20 years in the local bars, I've had it happen or done to me many times. Shooters have to share with the pedestrian traffic.

couldnthinkof01 said:

$300/cue
$1,700/ hookers and blow

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You can get a new Valhalla for $110. Just saying.