Pool Cue Collectors "WANTED"

1glibby1

1glibby1

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Please help me get in contact with these pool cue collectors. I have an Original "George Balabushka Cue owned by Two Champions that "Both" Won World Championships with it" Both Steve Mizerak and Larry Lisciotti owned this cue that has tremendous history and stories behind it.

I am looking for assistance with a contact number or email or both, to be able to make contact with these potntial collectors.

This cue is authentic and comes complete with 3 "Letters of Authenticity"

Thank you for you assistance

Kerry

email: [COLOR="Red"]kk13ww@roadrunner.com[/COLOR]

Mr: Prout
Walters
Hoskins
Price
Kerner
Malott
Gonzalez
Grassley
Oharo
Gouldon
Walten
Windham
Matsumi
Martino
Watkins
Colston
Kurasaki
Thankyou with these, or any other potential collectors contact information

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IMHO...this cue, with the history attached to it, should never be allowed to go overseas to disappear into a collection, never to resurface again. This is an exemplary piece of American billiards/pool history...for it to leave our shores would be nothing short of a travesty.

Lisa
 
ridewiththewind said:
IMHO...this cue, with the history attached to it, should never be allowed to go overseas to disappear into a collection, never to resurface again. This is an exemplary piece of American billiards/pool history...for it to leave our shores would be nothing short of a travesty.

Lisa
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Tap tap tap. I couldn't agree more. It would be like rebuilding the World Trade Centers in Canada.
 
Fascinating to read those letters and it's cool to see how much they mirror each other. The cue looks to be in great shape. Thanks for the pics.
 
Absolutely keep this cue IN the USA.
I got a Cool Feeling reading those letters too.

Awesome!
 
It's a pretty safe bet that the collectors you listed are fully aware of the cue since it's been publicized here for quite a while.

Will Prout posts here under the handle Ibuycues - he is also the coordinator for the International Cue Collectors show.

You may want to PM him for information on how to attend that show and get a table. I have no idea if you have any other cues to show but certainly that one is a display by itself.
 
ridewiththewind said:
IMHO...this cue, with the history attached to it, should never be allowed to go overseas to disappear into a collection, never to resurface again. This is an exemplary piece of American billiards/pool history...for it to leave our shores would be nothing short of a travesty.

Lisa
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Lisa, great post and I hope someone with some CASH will keep it here. I also think it should be in the Hall Of Fame with the letter's that are written. Lets not sell out this peice of history cause when you die you can't take the cash with you, but you can leave a peice of history where it should be...JMO
 
If you want to sell it, put it on ebay and the collectors will find you instead of you going out to find them.
 
Thank you all for the input.


To address a few of your replies:

* It is not my intention to allow this cue to go overseas. It is my intention to allow someone to obtain a piece of pool history, Sometimes it amazes me, when I see the car auctions every weekend, and how could someone ever consider selling something so rare and so valuable. Simply put, I have owned this cue for approximately 2 decades with literally only myself enjoying it's legacy. It has come time to sell it to someone who will look at it like I did 20 years ago. It is not a financial decision to sell this cue nor am I capable on the other hand, of a donation to the HOF. Simply, it's just my time to sell a piece of history to someone who will see it's current and long term beauty, collectability and value.

* As for the price: I elected not to post a price as this is the "Main Forum" and not the forum for actually selling a cue. If you were wondering what the cost of the cue is I would be happy to tell you. I am asking price was $55,000. I thought it would sell immediately, but it didn't. I reduced it to $50,000/bro and would also accept a trade allowance upward of, but not to exceed 15k, of a player cue such as a Black Boar or a Barry to assist with the sale. My hope is to sell the cue by either method, but a monetary offer would be my preference.

*Lastly I am considering the "Cue Show" and " The US Open" as a place someone might physically see the cue. I have never traveled with the cue so currently I am looking into my insurance options.

This cue should be at a collectors home that collects only elite items....it should be in the HOF, I agree....It should be in the Smithsonian under "Pool Legends"


Soon the Olympics will accept Pool/Billiards as a worldwide sport. The exposure this brings worldwide will sell this cue for much more than I am asking. I understand the Japanese buy things such a Harley Davidson's, American Music and Balabushka's and Szamboti's as artifacts and money is not a concern in this market. I have only offered this cue on AZ currently. Please do your part in helping this cue stay local as well.

Most all the tour pros in the 70's and 80's knew Steve Mizerak and Larry Lisciotti. Both were flamboyant and favorites, not only with their piers but with the people who came to watch and followed the tour. This cue is awesome in so many ways. I have owned a poolroom for most of my life and both Larry Lisciotti and Steve Mizerak were of my closest of friends.

I hope this helps your understanding of me and my thought of selling one of my prize possessions.

Thanks for all your help and let's find a home for this baby.

kerry

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As in most things it is only worth what someone else will pay for it. As far as $50K, well maybe, but if it wont sell for that it isnt worth that.

To see what it is really worth put on ebay with no reserve and start it out at $1000.

I think the same thing about the Gina that Ernie "turned down" an offer for $350K. IMO, that is where two fools met, one that made the offer and the other one who didnt take it. I dont know if the offer was "inflated value" or what but after a while it seems our sport we have to make it bigger than it really is.

Not trying to be an a$$, but damn, it really isnt hard to determine the value of anything. You dont need to chase down buyers. If you have something that is of value and they know about it, and they have interest, you will have buyers, at the right price.

I wish you the best of rolls,

Ken
 
I kind of wish I had kept my Balabushka now for some reason. But $200 at the time seemed like a good deal. True story! :confused:
 
Ken_4fun said:
As in most things it is only worth what someone else will pay for it. As far as $50K, well maybe, but if it wont sell for that it isnt worth that.

To see what it is really worth put on ebay with no reserve and start it out at $1000.

I think the same thing about the Gina that Ernie "turned down" an offer for $350K. IMO, that is where two fools met, one that made the offer and the other one who didnt take it. I dont know if the offer was "inflated value" or what but after a while it seems our sport we have to make it bigger than it really is.

Not trying to be an a$$, but damn, it really isnt hard to determine the value of anything. You dont need to chase down buyers. If you have something that is of value and they know about it, and they have interest, you will have buyers, at the right price.

I wish you the best of rolls,

Ken
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I feel ya but I don't think that 50k is out of line....hell i believe that ray martins buska is going for around40k and the paradise that mosconi had made for mantle is 0ver 30k......for a 2x world champ cue from two legends thats a pretty good bloodline it has

amazing cue tho and thanks for sharing such a nice piece of history! Maybe the guy on ebay with the 40k$ lishan would be willing to trade even lmfao
 
Cuebuddy said:
I think $200 was a good deal for at least one of the parties involved;).
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I went off for $400 playing Joey Spaeth One Pocket, getting 8-7 and the break for fifty a game. I was pissed and blamed my cue naturally. I loved that Bushka and how it played (very similar look to the one pictured). It had a clean crisp hit and felt comfortable in my hands. Solid but not heavy if you know what I mean. George damn sure knew something about cue making. Even today it's rare that I feel a cue that has the same qualities as that old Bushka. Clean, simple and efficient, and easy to play with.

Who knew at the time (early 70's) that one day these cues and the Szambotis, would be so valuable. I could have literally bought a dozen of each back then if I wanted too. You would find them for sale at pool tournaments, usually when a good player went broke. Going price in the early 70's on a used Bushka or Szamboti was maybe a few hundred at most.

The upward spiral began after, first George and then Gus, passed away in the 80's. George rarely showed his face around a tournament, if ever. He pretty much stayed close to his shop. I only saw the man once in my life in New York at a poolroom delivering a cue. Gus on the other hand, liked pool players and would come to many of the big tourneys on the East Coast. He would bring his boy Barry along. Gus was an outgoing friendly man who enjoyed mingling with the top players. He made cues for many of them. Sad to say, many got sold rather quickly.
 
AZ members:

We all see Mecum car Auctions every weekend. Who would ever imagine a corvette which was puchased in the 60's for $4500 selling today for $150000. Imagine the same car was owned by a person named "Yenko" and "Shelby" and this same car won the Indy 500 3 times. The same car now sells for millions.

One last thought. For all you people who think $50k is a lot for a cue. Here is something fun to try: Take your most prized cue you own.....walk outside and across the street to your neighbors house. Knock on the door and hold it up. Ask him "would you give me a $1000 dollrs for this cue" and see what he says. See the look on his face. Whether that cue be worth $1000 or $50000 that guy is going to look at you as if you has 3 eyeballs.

thanks for listening

kerry
 
Ken_4fun said:
As in most things it is only worth what someone else will pay for it. As far as $50K, well maybe, but if it wont sell for that it isnt worth that.

To see what it is really worth put on ebay with no reserve and start it out at $1000.

I think the same thing about the Gina that Ernie "turned down" an offer for $350K. IMO, that is where two fools met, one that made the offer and the other one who didnt take it. I dont know if the offer was "inflated value" or what but after a while it seems our sport we have to make it bigger than it really is.

Not trying to be an a$$, but damn, it really isnt hard to determine the value of anything. You dont need to chase down buyers. If you have something that is of value and they know about it, and they have interest, you will have buyers, at the right price.

I wish you the best of rolls,

Ken
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Since The Silver Gina was not actually for sale, it's a tad unfair to be calling anyone a "fool." Only time will tell, if and when the cue goes on the auction block, what it is actually worth.

Who knows, if that day comes we might all end up surprised, including you ;-)

Lou Figueroa
 
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