New book about GEORGE BALABUSHKA!!

BALABUSHKA BOOK

BALABUSHKA BOOK

New member
Well after an in-depth research on George Balabushka and his cues, asking for advice from well known people in the poolcommunity, and many thoughts i think now is the time to write a book about George Balabushka.

Ofcourse there are many articles to be find about George Balabushka but not a real book.
And because there are still people who ordered a cue from him, and met him personally i think now is a good time to give it a go.
I think it will take me approximately 2/3 years to finish the book, but i cannot look in the future.

I have the permission of the Balabushka family to start this project and they agreed to help me out wherever is possible.

I cannot complete this project without help from you the billiardcommunity.
A few notables already agreed to provide me with as much information as i want.

I asked AZ Billiards to make this thread "sticky" thanks for that.

To give you an idea, i am looking for all kind of stuff, and people.
Below is a small list of what i am looking for right now:


- People who own a Balabushka cue or more cues
- People who know somebody that owns a Balabushka or more cues
- Collectors
- People who actually met George, or ordered a cue from him etc.
- A George Balabushka businesscard, not only for my personal collection but also to add a nice gimmick to the book
- I want to get in contact with cuemaker John Davis
- Also want to get in contact with Mr. Harvey Mason or maybe through his daughter former WPBA player Jo-ann Mason-Parker
- Any other information that would be helpfull...

This book will not only be about his cues, but i want to tell stories as well.
I also want to let you know if the rumours and mythe's are true.
For example i want to find out who has the last cue George send out just before his death, did it went to a Mr. Tanner from Dallas, Texas and does he still has it, etc. etc.

I opened a page about George Balabushka on Facebook, but still have to work on it a little.
Also thinking to create a new website in the coming future, if so i will announce it in this thread.

All your questions, information or any other news that could be a contribution to the book can be send to the following email address: georgebalabushka@live.nl

I will personally answer each and any of you.
Don't hesitate to mail me even if you think your message is not important.

Help me out with this cool project to create a not to miss asset about this famous cuemaker that the poolworld needs and that an accurate picture about him is left for the future...

Thanks ahead,
Maurice Houben
 
Should be a great book. One tidbit of information, I believe Irving Crane was using a Balabushka when he ran his famous 150 and out in 1966.

Multiple world champion Ray Martin who posts here occasionally owned a Balabushka, I believe a poster named fatboy owns it now.
 
looking forward to the outcome of your book - a great tribute and thank you in advance.
 
george was a good guy. not too noisy. played at the golden cue in queens.n.y. occasionally. i played with him. ordered a cue and still have it.
there is only so much you can write a bout him so why not make it an old cuemakers book. where you include rambo, him, balner, paradise, rich, and a few others.
 
I have a wall-a-buska. Does that count? :grin: Good luck in your research and in your book. I look forward to reading it.


Shane
 
I'd talk to Pete & Denny Glenn. They probably have the biggest collection of Georges and Gus' cues in the country, if not the world.

just more hot air!


Sherm
 
cuesmith said:
I'd talk to Pete & Denny Glenn. They probably have the biggest collection of Georges and Gus' cues in the country, if not the world.

just more hot air!


Sherm
Click to expand...

My Thoughts exactly! Pete, Denny, and Stevie have a wealth of knowledge about the man.

Michael
 
BALABUSHKA BOOK said:
Well after an in-depth research on George Balabushka and his cues, asking for advice from well known people in the poolcommunity, and many thoughts i think now is the time to write a book about George Balabushka.Thanks ahead,
Maurice Houben
Click to expand...

Maurice, if I can be of any help, PM me. I wrote an article on Balabushka for InsidePOOL when he was inducted into the ACA Hall of Fame and had the opportunity to interview some people that are no longer with us for that article.

Regards,

Fred Agnir
 
BALABUSHKA BOOK said:
Well after an in-depth research on George Balabushka and his cues, asking for advice from well known people in the poolcommunity, and many thoughts i think now is the time to write a book about George Balabushka.

Ofcourse there are many articles to be find about George Balabushka but not a real book.
And because there are still people who ordered a cue from him, and met him personally i think now is a good time to give it a go.
I think it will take me approximately 2/3 years to finish the book, but i cannot look in the future.

I have the permission of the Balabushka family to start this project and they agreed to help me out wherever is possible.

I cannot complete this project without help from you the billiardcommunity.
A few notables already agreed to provide me with as much information as i want.

I asked AZ Billiards to make this thread "sticky" thanks for that.

To give you an idea, i am looking for all kind of stuff, and people.
Below is a small list of what i am looking for right now:


- People who own a Balabushka cue or more cues
- People who know somebody that owns a Balabushka or more cues
- Collectors
- People who actually met George, or ordered a cue from him etc.
- A George Balabushka businesscard, not only for my personal collection but also to add a nice gimmick to the book
- I want to get in contact with cuemaker John Davis
- Also want to get in contact with Mr. Harvey Mason or maybe through his daughter former WPBA player Jo-ann Mason-Parker
- Any other information that would be helpfull...

This book will not only be about his cues, but i want to tell stories as well.
I also want to let you know if the rumours and mythe's are true.
For example i want to find out who has the last cue George send out just before his death, did it went to a Mr. Tanner from Dallas, Texas and does he still has it, etc. etc.

I opened a page about George Balabushka on Facebook, but still have to work on it a little.
Also thinking to create a new website in the coming future, if so i will announce it in this thread.

All your questions, information or any other news that could be a contribution to the book can be send to the following email address: georgebalabushka@live.nl

I will personally answer each and any of you.
Don't hesitate to mail me even if you think your message is not important.

Help me out with this cool project to create a not to miss asset about this famous cuemaker that the poolworld needs and that an accurate picture about him is left for the future...

Thanks ahead,
Maurice Houben
Click to expand...

You need to get a hold of Paul Rubino...

JV
 
Maurice...I bought a cue from George. It was not his last, but I got it in Oct. 1975, which was only a couple of months before he passed away. It was unique, in that George did not make many cues with leather wraps. I played with it for 17 years, and sold it to the people who own Atlas Billiard Supply. They still have it in their safe! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
 
Scott Lee said:
Maurice...I bought a cue from George. It was not his last, but I got it in Oct. 1975, which was only a couple of months before he passed away. It was unique, in that George did not make many cues with leather wraps. I played with it for 17 years, and sold it to the people who own Atlas Billiard Supply. They still have it in their safe! :grin:

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...


Scott,


One of the oldtimers here told me that he and his buddy both ordered cues from George. Not sure about the buddy but Ernie claims his was leather wrapped and had foil window with his name. We had the conversation about 1996 and he remembers paying about $175. Not sure when he bought it but it was sold for 2-3x the price (maybe $500). He moaned and moaned how he regretted selling that cue. He's since retird and moved to Las Vegas. I'm going to try and contact him some day to see what he remembers about his buddies cue. They may have actually been very similar looking. My best purchase was getting both Eddie Robins books when they first came out, think I paid $29 or $39 each. Ordered them right out of the BD ad.

regards.......Paul
 
Paul...I did a little bit better with mine. It was $200, from George (in '75), with two shafts and one of the square leather Brunswick cases. I sold it in 1992 for $4000, and bought an APA franchise! Probably worth three times that today! :rolleyes: I have only seen a couple of other leather wrap Bushkas in all the years and miles I've traveled. Mine didn't have the foil window, but did have maple blocks in the butt sleeve, and no other inlays (also unusual for George's cues).

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

Paul Mon said:
Scott,


One of the oldtimers here told me that he and his buddy both ordered cues from George. Not sure about the buddy but Ernie claims his was leather wrapped and had foil window with his name. We had the conversation about 1996 and he remembers paying about $175. Not sure when he bought it but it was sold for 2-3x the price (maybe $500). He moaned and moaned how he regretted selling that cue. He's since retird and moved to Las Vegas. I'm going to try and contact him some day to see what he remembers about his buddies cue. They may have actually been very similar looking. My best purchase was getting both Eddie Robins books when they first came out, think I paid $29 or $39 each. Ordered them right out of the BD ad.

regards.......Paul
Click to expand...
 
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