ccbesq
Registered
While I was in college in New Jersey in the early 1960s I learned that Paradise cues were among the best being made, so I went to Elizabeth, met Frank Paradise, and had him make me a fairly plain cue (all I could afford back then). The cue was slightly damaged in a flood in the early 1970s, and sometime during the 1980s the owner of a little pool hall in Brewster, NY had it repaired and a second shaft made by Palmer Cues.
The cue now needs some work. The butt and the second (Palmer) shaft roll perfectly straight, both separately and together, but the original shaft is slightly warped, and when it and the butt are attached, it has just a slight hop. The butt needs to be re-wound, since I foolishly put an "extender" on it recently, which completely messed up the winding (the original winding was black twine or thin cord of some kind, and it was ruined in the flood, so it was redone by Palmer with the same material). The tips need replacing, since they're probably over 25 years old and about as hard as rocks. The cue also has some dings and cosmetic flaws, which obviously have no effect on function.
I've started shooting regularly again in the past year, and consequently while I care primarily about the cue's functionality, I don't want to do anything stupid which might lessen what I'm told may be its significant value. So I'm wondering whether to have the cue completely refinished and restored (Paul Rubino in NY has been highly recommended by Mark Kulungian at Classic Cues), or whether (like antique furniture and collectible musical instruments), it's better to leave it in its original condition and just have it rewound and new tips put on the shafts.
I have hi-res pictures I can send if that would help evaluate this situation, and any advice or recommendations will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
The cue now needs some work. The butt and the second (Palmer) shaft roll perfectly straight, both separately and together, but the original shaft is slightly warped, and when it and the butt are attached, it has just a slight hop. The butt needs to be re-wound, since I foolishly put an "extender" on it recently, which completely messed up the winding (the original winding was black twine or thin cord of some kind, and it was ruined in the flood, so it was redone by Palmer with the same material). The tips need replacing, since they're probably over 25 years old and about as hard as rocks. The cue also has some dings and cosmetic flaws, which obviously have no effect on function.
I've started shooting regularly again in the past year, and consequently while I care primarily about the cue's functionality, I don't want to do anything stupid which might lessen what I'm told may be its significant value. So I'm wondering whether to have the cue completely refinished and restored (Paul Rubino in NY has been highly recommended by Mark Kulungian at Classic Cues), or whether (like antique furniture and collectible musical instruments), it's better to leave it in its original condition and just have it rewound and new tips put on the shafts.
I have hi-res pictures I can send if that would help evaluate this situation, and any advice or recommendations will be appreciated.
Thanks,
Chris
