Cue Design - Who Was First?

Black paper veneers =Ron Haley

Correction: First cuemaker to advertise that he was using black paper "veneers" might be Ron Haley; I've been using it since the early 90's to create razor-thin black lines between inlay elements, and also shared it with Jerry McWorter a long time ago. Jerry has since used it even more than me, and has made GREAT use of the technique.

TW
 
Who was the first to do re-cut points?

Interesting question.....not sure I've ever heard who. I think a lot of guys were doing them by the mid to late 80s. I'm curious if anyone was doing them in the 70s. Hopefully someone will confirm....
 
Interesting question.....not sure I've ever heard who. I think a lot of guys were doing them by the mid to late 80s. I'm curious if anyone was doing them in the 70s. Hopefully someone will confirm....

I have a 70's Adam A/H-35 with re-cut points. Its the only Adam in my collection made this way.
 
Cues based on "themed" intricate mirrored floating point inlays....my guess Joe Gold "Cognoscenti".....hadn't seen anything like it before him...
 
Correction: First cuemaker to advertise that he was using black paper "veneers" might be Ron Haley...I've been using it since the early 90's to create razor-thin black lines between inlay elements, and also shared it with Jerry McWorter a long time ago. Jerry has since used it even more than me, and has made GREAT use of the technique.

TW


I'm certain Ron has never "advertised" anything. I'm also certain what lenoxmjs is referring to specifically are point veneers. Finally, I'm certain Ron was not the first to use paper (not limited to black) in his veneer packs for points, but he did popularize using them.
 
I'm certain Ron has never "advertised" anything. I'm also certain what lenoxmjs is referring to specifically are point veneers. Finally, I'm certain Ron was not the first to use paper (not limited to black) in his veneer packs for points, but he did popularize using them.

I used the word "advertise" as a figure of speech, meaning to "let the cat out of the bag" rather than "advertise" in the way I assume you mean (in magazines or whatever).

I know of many firsts in this industry - mine and others' - that remain closely guarded secrets. Those of us who've been doing this a long time have developed tricks and techniques that we don't share outside of a very small fraternity. I'm talking about things you won't learn on YouTube or from Dennis Diekman videos (lol) - and for a long time paper veneers was one of those secrets.

TW
 
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A couple common design elements, but uncommonly done:

Extruded vinyl angle "veneers" (v-points) - Gordy Hart (Viking), 1960's or early 1970's


TW

The extruded plastic veneers were actually done first by Bob Meucci 1960's. He gave it to Gordon after leaving Wico.
Adjustable weight and balance point through out handle area. Bob Meucci 1990's
Sealed wraps. Bob Meucci 1970's
1st major manufacturer to standardize to 58" cues. Bob Meucci 1970's
Leather Wraps. Brunswick 19??
Piloted Joint. Herman Rambow 19??
Ivory Hoppe ring. Herman Rambow 19??
Thread on interchangeable ferrules. Frank Paradise 19??
3/8-11 joint pin with center drilled straight lead in on end. David Kersenbrock 19??
Nylon Insert in shaft. Paul Huebler 1970's
Butt Joint Veneers in points. Dan Prather 1970's
Snakeskin wraps. Adam Cue Company 1970's
1st Major Cue Lathe maker. Leonard Bludworth 1980's
Silver stitch rings. Joey Gold 1989
Jump/Break cues with a longer jump section than the normal forearm that was about 16 inches on the jump butt portion. Chris Hightower 1988
Popularized the .850" joint size. Chris Hightower 1988
Purple Heart break shafts. Chris Hightower 1990 ish
3/8-16 joint pin with Brass Insert. Chris Hightower 1990
3/8-10 joint with brass insert. Chris Hightower 1990
5/16-14 flat faced joint pin with no insert. Chris Hightower 1994
12 slot 1mm wide sterling silver stich rings 1994. Chris Hightower 1994
tapered forearm coring. Dale Hoke 2003
Shadow inlays. Edwin Reyes 200?

All of the above is open to correction.
 
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The extruded plastic veneers were actually done first by Bob Meucci 1960's. He gave it to Gordon after leaving Wico.
[...]

Wasn't aware of that. My info on the vinyl "veneers" came from Burton, who also told me he taught both Meucci and Hart how to make shot splice forearms.

In the 80's I repaired a number of Viking 3-pointers after the vinyl points had come completely apart, due to the very dry conditions on the Arctic North Slope. Because they only had three points the entire point assembly (on all 3 points!) could pop out of the cue and it would still have essentially the same "spine" as it had when new.

I would scuff the surfaces between the vinyl layers, hand scrape the point wood and v-pocket, and then epoxy every thing back together. With a little care there was almost no leveling required - except to remove excess cured epoxy - so finish and re-wrap and the cue'd be ready to go.

Never had one come back, but the mass pipeline worker exodus of the mid-80's may have had something to do with that.

TW
 


Wasn't aware of that. My info on the vinyl "veneers" came from Burton, who also told me he taught both Meucci and Hart how to make shot splice forearms.

In the 80's I repaired a number of Viking 3-pointers after the vinyl points had come completely apart, due to the very dry conditions on the Arctic North Slope. Because they only had three points the entire point assembly (on all 3 points!) could pop out of the cue and it would still have essentially the same "spine" as it had when new.

I would scuff the surfaces between the vinyl layers, hand scrape the point wood and v-pocket, and then epoxy every thing back together. With a little care there was almost no leveling required - except to remove excess cured epoxy - so finish and re-wrap and the cue'd be ready to go.

Never had one come back, but the mass pipeline worker exodus of the mid-80's may have had something to do with that.

TW
Burton actually made the first seamless veneers with molds, but they were full of bubbles. Bob told him that he thought he could do it, but Burton assured him it was impossible. Bob being one who liked a challenge, found a plastic extruder to make them and actually started a side business selling them. They have become known today as the Wico blanks.
Bob also told me that Gordon had to quit using them because the company quit making the glue that would hold them together. He said he had a hard time finding the glue in the first place that would hold them.
 
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Bridged veneers

Boxed veneers or Bribged veneers. They were truely cut in. Never just inlayed at the bottom.
Timi Scruggs.
Nick :)
 
Great topic guys.

Can we capture all of these "firsts" in one list?

Great job by all....

1.) Is Joey Gold the first with the G10 pin?
2.) Big "Southwest" pin, Kersenbrock? Tad? Martin?
3.) First full sized jump break cue? Rick Howard? Gilbert?

The above are guesses, any thoughts?

Ken
 
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