We have to go to Greenfields at noon to get our league pay out money. So it will be after that. I am not sure if any of us will play in the end of league tournament.
~~~~~ 2 Balabushka group pics ~~~~~
- Thread starter skierlawyer
- Start date
We have to go to Greenfields at noon to get our league pay out money. So it will be after that. I am not sure if any of us will play in the end of league tournament.
I really like the Titlist Conversion, I know most would think more of the other cue, but I like them simple. I also like the fact that it is an early Balabushka, with a Brass Joint and pin you just don't see many of Georges early cues. Do you have any idea when it was made? I suspect it was made in the Mid-60's.
Now the fancy cue certainly has a major perk to it, and that is the Leather wrap. I have never actually seen one close up but it appears that the wrap has held up great through the years, they say George was the best at Leather wraps and that continues even today.
Thanks very much for posting the cues they are certainly something to be treasured.
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That is a first for me
Never saw a Balabushka with a brass pin.
Nick
Never saw a Balabushka with a brass pin.
Nick
1-pocket! The most boring game in pool.
I would need a case of 5 hour energy drinks to watch.
Never saw a Balabushka with a brass pin.
Nick
Most never have, George did not use many of them and only on his early cues, this is the second one I have seen.
That's amazing to me...and I'm not an expert...nor even an "amateur" when it comes to Balabushkas...but whenever I hear someone talk about them, I instantly "think" brass joint and pin! That's why I suck at the "guess the cuemaker" game...I never know what a cuemaker is "known" for doing or not doing!
I do like both of them!!!
I do like both of them!!!
Never saw a Balabushka with a brass pin.
Nick
You do realize those are not free either, don't you?
Yes I do-bummer.
We could not make it today. Ted had a situation that Doug and I had to help him with.
Sorry we missed you, The bushkas are way better in person than in pictures - what a pick up!!!!! But even more impressive were the famous Hoka running shoes! :thumbup: ...and water was free at Felt.
It was great meeting skierlawyer, he's a really nice guy w/great taste in cues. Plays w/a really nice older Ernie Martinez.
Dave
Brass pin
When I lived in New York George was asked why he didn't use brass pins. He said they bent. And he refused to build with them because he did not want his Cues to look cheap like the Willie Hoppe Cues.
So back in 68 if you saw a Cue with a brass pin and thought it was a Bushka you were wrong. George's words not mine.
Very rare? Rarer than you think. Not knocking the Cues. I just happened to grow up in a poolroom where all the players had George's Cues. Binghamton. And one wanted a brass pin special order. It was refused.
Nick
When I lived in New York George was asked why he didn't use brass pins. He said they bent. And he refused to build with them because he did not want his Cues to look cheap like the Willie Hoppe Cues.
So back in 68 if you saw a Cue with a brass pin and thought it was a Bushka you were wrong. George's words not mine.
Very rare? Rarer than you think. Not knocking the Cues. I just happened to grow up in a poolroom where all the players had George's Cues. Binghamton. And one wanted a brass pin special order. It was refused.
Nick
Beautiful cues.
Why? If you saw one in 68, couldn't it just be a very old one (old even at that time)?
Or did you mean if you saw a new cue in 68 with a brass pin it couldn't be a Balabushka?
I was surprised to see the brass pin as well. I can't remember if I ever saw one before but I do remember hearing somewhere that were were a few very early Balabushkas with brass pins. Of course...that's very tertiary knowledge and could be way off. I don't remember where I heard/read it.
I love hearing stories from those times. The people. The places. Firsthand accounts of experiences with people like George Balabushka are invaluable history IMHO. Thanks!
Why? If you saw one in 68, couldn't it just be a very old one (old even at that time)?
Or did you mean if you saw a new cue in 68 with a brass pin it couldn't be a Balabushka?
I was surprised to see the brass pin as well. I can't remember if I ever saw one before but I do remember hearing somewhere that were were a few very early Balabushkas with brass pins. Of course...that's very tertiary knowledge and could be way off. I don't remember where I heard/read it.
I love hearing stories from those times. The people. The places. Firsthand accounts of experiences with people like George Balabushka are invaluable history IMHO. Thanks!
I have letters from Pete Tascarella on both cues, he describes the brass joint collar and brass pin on the early cue.
Super nice to meet Dave, I wish we had more time to talk but he was playing in the tournament and I had to get home for dinner. Great job Dave getting very deep into a field of killers.
I have also seen a very documented house cue by George with a brass pin. So never say never...
Now maybe with a few made, he saw they were not up to the standards he wanted, and made the decision to stop using them altogether early in his career, but it is a few out there that seem to be documented very sufficiently...
Now maybe with a few made, he saw they were not up to the standards he wanted, and made the decision to stop using them altogether early in his career, but it is a few out there that seem to be documented very sufficiently...
The cues are great. I played with the steel jointed cue today and it is best hitting bushka i have ever played with. I really like the hit of that cue.
Bump for 40 years