Rambow signed cues

cuenut

cuenut

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
I can't recall ever reading anything about why Herman Rambow signed his cues the way he did. I find it interesting that in today's world, if a cuemaker were to sign a cue in such a manner, most would think that it would devalue a cue. I think the closest these days is Ernie or Richard Black signing their cues, but the size/thickness of the lines is much smaller.

I was wondering whether or not it had anything to do with distancing himself/his cues from Brunswick. I know the Brunswick shop would "personalize" a cue by signing the forearm in a manner similar to Rambow, even adding the flourishes on the ends of the name. Anyone here know where it all started?
 
Good question. I hope we hear something from those that know. His signature was so prominent that he obviously wanted people to know he made the cue.

I started signing my cases about 10 or 11 years ago and I have wondered
if any case makers might have done that before.
 
I was under the impression he didn't sign them. I thought that his handwriting was atrocious. But he had several people that would do the calligraphy. Several cues that I have seen, the letters are done differently. For example, let's say the name starts with a T. The 2 T's are done totally different. I had one with name signed on an ivory nameplate. Could be wrong, but I don't think I am.
 
I once bought a Brunswick Titlist with the player's name written on it with flourishes similar to those on the Rambows, and not knowing any better, thought it was a Rambow. Posted pics on this forum and unfortunately gained some more knowledge :( and now know that mine was simply a personalized Brunswick, not the Rambow I thought I bought. Didn't know anything about his pin being rounded off, etc.
 
cuenut said:
I can't recall ever reading anything about why Herman Rambow signed his cues the way he did. I find it interesting that in today's world, if a cuemaker were to sign a cue in such a manner, most would think that it would devalue a cue. I think the closest these days is Ernie or Richard Black signing their cues, but the size/thickness of the lines is much smaller.

I was wondering whether or not it had anything to do with distancing himself/his cues from Brunswick. I know the Brunswick shop would "personalize" a cue by signing the forearm in a manner similar to Rambow, even adding the flourishes on the ends of the name. Anyone here know where it all started?
Click to expand...

As a general rule Rambow didn't sign cues much.
The custom 'calligraphy' was done by a man named Charles Kimmel.

See also this thread Post #38

How did it "begin" ? That's a good question.
However, personalized cues were nothing new...they (brunswick) were probably just looking for someone with neater writing than Herman.
 
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Not really. I saw that one, but not interested. It got me think about what the reason was behind it being so conspicuous. I don't recall any other cuemaker of the time even signing their work other than a stamp or label.
 
I see. That cue had me thinking as well.

When you think about it, it is such a sticking point with values. I mean, how often is there difficulty identifying a cue? Very often. How often are cues misidentified? Too often.

Asking experts can be difficult because the complicating factor can be their interest in the cue.

As for the prominence of his signature and the names on the cues, it really does stand out. Was he trying to set himself apart? How often were there no markings at all? I am betting they were often unmarked. I mean, if a person ordered the cue unmarked it would be without marking, right? There are indeed other identifying features, but when we are talking about cues of such significant value, those features can be relatively subtle when compared to a makers mark or signature. Lot's of experts will say so-and-so always or never did X,Y.or Z with a cue....only to find out later that they are wrong. There is little or no documentation about such things for cues that old.

So and so had rounded pins. Oh....except for a few.....but hard to prove....or maybe a ping got replaced at some point. Or a joint collar got changed. I was told once Rambow didn't use stainless joints when I knew very well he did.....lots of opinions all over the place.

Why are those names on his cues so prominent? Interesting matter to consider. It was a very different time with very different values (I don't mean monetary), so there is a lot to consider in that matter I think....
 
Thanks to all who have commented in this thread. I am more knowledgeable now that I was when this started. I find it interesting that players of the day who wished to have their cues personalized wouldn't have had the cuemaker engrave their names on a nameplate similar to the old Brunswick cues with the MOP triangle or rectangle. Those didn't detract as much from the overall look of the cue.
 
Mr. Bond said:
As a general rule Rambow didn't sign any cues.
The custom 'calligraphy' was done by a man named Charles Kimmel.

See also this thread Post #38

How did it "begin" ? That's a good question.
However, personalized cues were nothing new...they (brunswick) were probably just looking for someone with neater writing than Herman.
Click to expand...

I was surprised to learn that Herman didn't sign his cues himself, but Mr. Bond would know. I bought a $50 cue (with two shafts) from Herman around 1964. I don't recall being asked if I wanted him to sign it but if I had been asked I would have said yes. That late in his life he was signing his cues like this: mine said "Rich Klein" and below that "Made by Rambow". Each of the shafts had my initials in script near the joint.

I suspect he was doing it because he wanted to distinguish his cues from similar cues that could be obtained from Brunswick and because his signature would enhance the value of the cue. Perhaps his employer in his late years (Keefe and Hamer Billiard Supply) asked him to do it for the same reasons. I think they had old Herman churning out cues at a pretty rapid pace.
 
Hey Rich - good to see ya.

for the record, how was your name applied? is it burnt or ink or ....?

And did Herman scribble it himself....or do you know for sure?
 
I have heard it said that Herman didn't like his cues "personalized," and would only do so at the customer's request. I have never seen the personalization "burnt in." Does anyone have pics of such a thing? I have always seen them in ink with pencil underneath.
 
Mr Hoppe said:
I have heard it said that Herman didn't like his cues "personalized," and would only do so at the customer's request. I have never seen the personalization "burnt in." Does anyone have pics of such a thing? I have always seen them in ink with pencil underneath.
Click to expand...


Only one of my Rambow cues is "personalized".
The bit's & pieces I've been able to find online about Rambow over the years doesn't qualify me to comment,
but I remember reading that there was an extra charge to have the cue's personalized.
Since I wasn't there I don't know.
 
Mr. Bond said:
Hey Rich - good to see ya.

for the record, how was your name applied? is it burnt or ink or ....?

And did Herman scribble it himself....or do you know for sure?
Click to expand...

Hi, Mr. Bond -

I sold the cue probably 45 years ago but I'm very sure that it looked like the photo below, except with my name. The signature was just as flowery as that one. I had assumed that Herman had signed it himself but what did I know? I don't know if it was burnt or signed in ink, but as I recall it kind of looked burnt. I only met Herman when I picked up the cue and he didn't talk about the signature. He talked about how he knows it's straight (aim like a rifle), how his eyesight was still sharp, how he made cues for all the great players, how to smooth the shaft when it gets sticky (very fine steel wool), how good he still played, he showed me a cue in for repair belonging to P.K. Wrigley, and that's about all I recall. He was proud of his life's work and he liked to talk about it.

rambo002-1.jpg
 
you mean to tell me that somewhere out there is a cue with your name on it already ? holy missing cue stix batman !

ok, you guys heard him, if anyone finds a rambow with Rich's name on it, we need to get it back to Rich :cool:
 
Mr. Bond said:
you mean to tell me that somewhere out there is a cue with your name on it already ? holy missing cue stix batman !

ok, you guys heard him, if anyone finds a rambow with Rich's name on it, we need to get it back to Rich :cool:
Click to expand...

OK, I'll tell the story. I sold it around (I'm guessing) 1968 to a guy I went to grammar school with who was about to go to Vietnam. This was a guy I hadn't seen since grammar school (7 years earlier). He just called me up one day and said he'd like to buy my Rambow cue. I didn't even know he played pool. Since I had given up the game about 3 years earlier and the cue had just been sitting in a closet I agreed to sell it. Dumb me!! I sold it for 40 bucks and even threw in the case it was sitting in. I guess I never expected to play pool again.

Now..... a few months ago I attended my grammar school class's 50 year reunion and this guy was there! I hadn't seen him since I sold him the cue. Naturally I wanted to find out what happened to the "Rich Klein Made by Rambow" cue. To my dismay he didn't remember anything about it.

I found it hard to believe he didn't remember, but maybe he was acting on behalf of someone else when he bought the cue and it just wasn't important to him. I didn't know it in 1968, but Rambow had died shortly before this and the cue was bound to go up in value, or maybe already had. Maybe somebody had asked him to call his old school buddy and ask to buy the cue, figuring I'd be more inclined to sell it, and for a good price, to a friend who was about to go to Vietnam. If so, they were right.

So perhaps somewhere in this wide world there is a Rambow cue with my name on it. When I become president, or perhaps star in a few major motion pictures, the cue will become even more valuable.
 
ahhh Rich you're killing me lol - i was reading your story hoping that he still had the cue !

now every time i talk to someone with a rambow, i'll have to ask about seeing your name ! LOL

wouldnt it be crazy if it was still in chicago after all this time
 
I'll keep an eye out for you Rich, I'm in the Chicago area as well. It sure would be cool to find this cue and return it to you.
 
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