This cue has been modified and enough to make a purchase very dicey. Chances are very good that the bottom ring above the butt cap has been replaced or at a minimum had all the inlays replaced to larger dots. The dot that used to be where a small mother of pearl triangle was, is a huge error. There appears to be cracks in the black acrylic. This is not uncommon in cues that have been left in cars which a lot were because no one thought any different. The expansion and contraction could have caused the inlays to pop.
Frank had many foil types, and we have seen white and gold foil as well as the black. The fact that it is odd, does not make it any earlier than any other examples.
There is no way without a receipt to verify the Szamboti refinish and shafts. I won't comment on the price to be fair to the seller, but this cue needs a competent cuemaker to try and rebuild/repair the back end back.
Joe
Agree with you, Joe, the eventual owner should consider a restoration of this cue, especially considering where the price is. Although Frank was known to indulge his whims with the Diamond Kings, this one does look modified.
I would wonder about the best way to do a restoration. I see a few options:
One, drill out the large MOP inlays in middle and bottom section, and replace with the proper inlays, likely inside a black fill epoxy. Even George Balabushka was known to inlay a MOP diamond inside a fill of some type, so this would be the least intrusive, but maybe not the best method. The alignment of the bottom section of MOP dots is way off in the first place.
Second, replace the middle and bottom sections, entirely, with new inlays, saving the buttcap. Sort of in the middle, but would replace most of the bottom section, assuming black acrylic can be found.
Third, replace the entire bottom section, inlays and all, assuming black acrylic can be found. Probably the prettiest option, in the hands of a competent cuemaker. In terms of value, maybe the most destructive, as a good portion of the cue would be replaced.
Here's something maybe nobody has noticed. On Frank's Diamond King cues, the MOP diamond and dot pattern in the points usually had an asymmetric pattern to them. On these Ebay pictures, it's hard to tell if this is the case or not. One looks asymmetric, one doesn't.
This is truly the most unusual Paradise Diamond King I've ever seen, which has been a bunch. But good fodder for discussion.
WW
