George Balabushka Titlist Cues

[HawaiianEye]

I read on a popular high-dollar cue selling website that George Balabushka made somewhere around 1,200 cues in his lifetime and over half of those used Titlist blanks.

Does anyone know how many of those were made with "handles" and how many remained full-spiced and one piece from the joint and rings all the way to the butt cap?

I know a lot of the current conversions I have seen have been made with handles because they were too narrow at the 29-30 inch part to keep the butt one piece.

 

[KJ Cues]

The source you read 'states': "George Balabushka made somewhere around 1,200 cues".
The phrase 'somewhere around' should nullify any attempt at accuracy to your question.
IMHO, I think the number is closer to 500. So there you go, immediate discrepancy.

Before I get any deeper into why your question is impossible to answer, is there a point to it ?
Will the answer to your question change anyone's life or Billiards as we know it ?
Curiosity goes both ways.
BTW, do you own calipers and are you prepared for a lengthy road-trip ?

 

[ideologist]

None of them are "full splice". George cut a ring into the top of the handle on his cues.

Even when no "Bushka ring" is visible, he has a buzz ring under many of the wraps.

 

[pdcue]

I read on a popular high-dollar cue selling website that George Balabushka made somewhere around 1,200 cues in his lifetime and over half of those used Titlist blanks.

Does anyone know how many of those were made with "handles" and how many remained full-spiced and one piece from the joint and rings all the way to the butt cap?

I know a lot of the current conversions I have seen have been made with handles because they were too narrow at the 29-30 inch part to keep the butt one piece.

Your best possible source for info would be Pete Tascarella. He got George's records along with the shop equipment etc.

Of course, he is a pretty busy cuemaker but you couldn't ask for a nicer fellow.

Dale(no, I'm not starting a fan club)

 

[classiccues]

There is no way to accurately number the amount of cues George made. The number comes from Tascarella, Rubino, Simpson and Kulungian as the most likely number based on the amount of production that was capable in his garage, and based on the blanks he was purchasing. Since he used the titlist from 59 till the end it is easy to extrapolate that they were the majority. (Pete has a titlist blank that was started by George) How many were fancy, when we say fancy titlist, see Dan Whites avatar, it is what I would think was the deluxe titlist offered by George in the titlists heyday. We have never seen a titlist with an A-joint come through or be offered as a Balabushka.

FTR.. Pete by himself has probably written more than 500 letters.

The biggest mistake we see if people try and draw lines to when the production ended of each blank style he was using. He did not cease using titlist in 65-66 when Burton was making blanks, he did not cease using Davis blanks when Gus provided him blanks.

Also if you do not have the Blue Books or Encylopedias, Rubino / Stein / Simpson in the late 80's were interviewing and noting for these publications people who were involved.

JV

 

[classiccues]

He also made "Rambow" ring cues.. in case anyone was curious.

JV

 

[HawaiianEye]

The source you read 'states': "George Balabushka made somewhere around 1,200 cues".
The phrase 'somewhere around' should nullify any attempt at accuracy to your question.
IMHO, I think the number is closer to 500. So there you go, immediate discrepancy.

Before I get any deeper into why your question is impossible to answer, is there a point to it ?
Will the answer to your question change anyone's life or Billiards as we know it ?
Curiosity goes both ways.
BTW, do you own calipers and are you prepared for a lengthy road-trip ?

The point is I had a question. If you don't want to answer it or don't know the answer, that is fine.

Will your wiseass answer encourage people to ask questions?

I have calipers BTW.

If you dispute the number of cues he made, go to the source, not me. I just listed what I read and stated that.

 

[HawaiianEye]

None of them are "full splice". George cut a ring into the top of the handle on his cues.

Even when no "Bushka ring" is visible, he has a buzz ring under many of the wraps.

Are you saying he cut the Titlist blanks in order to install his famous buzz ring? If the butt remained a solid piece of wood, what was there to buzz?

That is one of the reasons I asked the question to begin with.

Thank you.

 

[pdcue]

JV,

Thanks for the pics and good info.

It is my understanding that he also mostly, used the Rosewood blanks
from Burton in their "full splice" mode.

Any info on that detail?

Thanks
Dale

ps
Pete Glen told me that George had a sorta BYOB policy that if you brought him a Hoppe Pro
he would use it to build you a cue and you could get one much quicker than if you just ordered it.

 

[HawaiianEye]

There is no way to accurately number the amount of cues George made. The number comes from Tascarella, Rubino, Simpson and Kulungian as the most likely number based on the amount of production that was capable in his garage, and based on the blanks he was purchasing. Since he used the titlist from 59 till the end it is easy to extrapolate that they were the majority. (Pete has a titlist blank that was started by George) How many were fancy, when we say fancy titlist, see Dan Whites avatar, it is what I would think was the deluxe titlist offered by George in the titlists heyday. We have never seen a titlist with an A-joint come through or be offered as a Balabushka.

FTR.. Pete by himself has probably written more than 500 letters.

The biggest mistake we see if people try and draw lines to when the production ended of each blank style he was using. He did not cease using titlist in 65-66 when Burton was making blanks, he did not cease using Davis blanks when Gus provided him blanks.

Also if you do not have the Blue Books or Encylopedias, Rubino / Stein / Simpson in the late 80's were interviewing and noting for these publications people who were involved.

JV

Thank you for your informative answer and the pictures.

Aloha.

 

[Murray Tucker]

It is my understanding that he also mostly, used the Rosewood blanks
from Burton in their "full splice" mode.

Any info on that detail?

Thanks
Dale

Post #2 HERE has some insight.

 

[HawaiianEye]

Post #2 HERE has some insight.

Your "here" link brings me to a site that requires registration of some sort. I think I'll pass on that.

Thank you.

 

[Murray Tucker]

Your "here" link brings me to a site that requires registration of some sort. I think I'll pass on that.

Thank you.

Actually I was replying to Dale since it addresses his specific question.

 

[mia]

Your "here" link brings me to a site that requires registration of some sort. I think I'll pass on that.

Thank you.

"I'm not signing up for an account at some pool forum!" - he says via his account on a pool forum

 

[deanoc]

I have heard for years that the estimated number of balabushkas and szamboti cues was 1200 each

I think George cut the full splice blanks so that he could keep the joint around 8.44
and then cut the butt and connected it the same way you would a shorty

however some extended well past the a ring area,about half way through the wrap area,these had no so called buzz ring

this is not speculation,i have seen and owned these type of cues,the ones I saw were probably brazillion rosewood
I sold one to mark griffin,he had me send it to tascarella for confirmation which we got


dennis glenn owns 200 bushkas and has shown me many of these,and I owned probably 50 in my lifetime
but I am no expert

I never saw a wrapless balabushka,but this does not mean that there were none


I have no idea why you were given such a rude reply as you were given,unless you have a long history of bad behavior,i know of none and hate the wise acre remarks

I think your question is a good one,and I believe the answer to be zero,
but I am taking no bets
dean

 

[HawaiianEye]

I have heard for years that the estimated number of balabushkas and szamboti cues was 1200 each

I think George cut the full splice blanks so that he could keep the joint around 8.44
and then cut the butt and connected it the same way you would a shorty

however some extended well past the a ring area,about half way through the wrap area,these had no so called buzz ring

this is not speculation,i have seen and owned these type of cues,the ones I saw were probably brazillion rosewood
I sold one to mark griffin,he had me send it to tascarella for confirmation which we got


dennis glenn owns 200 bushkas and has shown me many of these,and I owned probably 50 in my lifetime
but I am no expert

I never saw a wrapless balabushka,but this does not mean that there were none


I have no idea why you were given such a rude reply as you were given,unless you have a long history of bad behavior,i know of none and hate the wise acre remarks

I think your question is a good one,and I believe the answer to be zero,
but I am taking no bets
dean

Thank you. The reason I asked about the handle is because many of the newer conversions I've seen have the points really close to the joint because they were too thin to be kept as a full one piece butt. They have to push the points forward to have a fat enough area for the joint and then add a handle.

On all the Balalbuska Titlists I've seen the points don't extend that far forward. They look more like one-piece butts that are normally seen with bar cue conversions that have been wrapped.

To me, cues don't look proportional if the points extend to just an inch or two from the joint.

 

[classiccues]

George did whatever the design called for. But when he left the full intact, he had to fasten a handle to extend the butt cap and sleeve.

The first cue pictures we know is "full" as it would be. Was GB controlling weight, balance, when he was figuring out the extension area? I don't know. But we know from x-rays there is a joint under the wrap.

The second cue is a BS prong with a ring above the wrap, obviously this is cue and fastened via mechanical fastener.

The ebony full splice Spain shown was supplied to the owner VIA GB whom he purchased shaft blanks and some parts. GB Liked him and he made a few cues in the late 60's and you wouldn't know him if you tripped over him, and he prefers it that way. He still tinkers and has real infamous cue out there.

The last pic is of some BS cues made in the years before he passed.

JV

JV,

Thanks for the pics and good info.

It is my understanding that he also mostly, used the Rosewood blanks
from Burton in their "full splice" mode.

Any info on that detail?

Thanks
Dale

ps
Pete Glen told me that George had a sorta BYOB policy that if you brought him a Hoppe Pro
he would use it to build you a cue and you could get one much quicker than if you just ordered it.

 

[classiccues]

There are a couple of reasons for this. Most titlists are converted and have no issues getting into that classic length. I think some newer cuemakers just do not know to do it, from lack of experience, that would be the simplest reason. Same with putting a ring above the wrap, its a full splice not meant to have an A joint, just a sleeve extension. I don't get it. Turing a masterpiece into a short splice. I defy someone to take a Hercek and put an a-joint in it.
Could you turn down a titlist to a 5/8 or 3/4 dowel, ring it and sleeve it for a wrap... very possible, I would think...

JV

Thank you. The reason I asked about the handle is because many of the newer conversions I've seen have the points really close to the joint because they were too thin to be kept as a full one piece butt. They have to push the points forward to have a fat enough area for the joint and then add a handle.

On all the Balalbuska Titlists I've seen the points don't extend that far forward. They look more like one-piece butts that are normally seen with bar cue conversions that have been wrapped.

To me, cues don't look proportional if the points extend to just an inch or two from the joint.

 

[KJ Cues]

Before we travel too far down the "inexperienced cuemaker" road,
let's consider that the vast majority of the cues you speak of that were converted
at full length, also had a sufficient jnt. dia. and didn't require extending.
Those cues are long gone and what's left have skinny jnts.
To get to contemporary jnt. dia., one has to slide down the F/A to make the cut.
Hence the points get closer to the jnt. and the back-end needs extending.
Well, unless you're into 55-56" cues.

 

[LGSM3]

I seem to remember John telling me about when he and Burton supplied blanks to George, he was cutting them off. I believe at that point they started supplying him with what John referred to as "shorties", still full splice blanks but with a much shorter backend. Maybe shortly after that he started buying even shorter blanks from Gus.

Not sure about rosewood blanks but I know they supplied the ebony blanks shorter