Question for old timers@

I remember when the marker at Bath , Ol' Carr, was selling his Magic Twisting Chalk out of the back of a wagon he pushed all over town. I reckon late 1790s
Fellow by the name of Mingaud got hold of some, while he was in prison and "the rest is history" ,as they say.
 
I started playing as a pre-teen in a small 5 table room in an IL town of 2000 people. When I grabbed a cue off the wall, the only thing I knew about a tip was to be sure it had one. 20% of these old beaters had no tip at all.
 
The cool kids used Crown or Champion, which are French brands of Chandivert. One had a fiber backing and one didn't. Here's a picture of Champion

1729644304285.png


They are still available for about $2, but I have to wonder how old they are. The company doesn't seem to exist any more.
 
1pocketguru said:
Anybody know the history of cue tips?
What was used during Luther Lassiter and Mosconi and Hoppe time? What was ernie putting on Gina's back in the day? What was on the first balabushkas? Maybe there is some knowledge in the billiards encyclopedia? Anyone care to share some history? Thanks ya'll. Gute Schtoss.
Click to expand...

Here’s some history to add to evrything else posted:

Cornerman Tip Article
 
1pocketguru said:
Anybody know the history of cue tips?
What was used during Luther Lassiter and Mosconi and Hoppe time? What was ernie putting on Gina's back in the day? What was on the first balabushkas? Maybe there is some knowledge in the billiards encyclopedia? Anyone care to share some history? Thanks ya'll. Gute Schtoss.
Click to expand...
If you're talking most of say, 1960s through 1970s, most players used French Champion tips. That is not to be confused with the later Chandivert tips, which were just not the same. Since you've included Lassiter and Mosconi, Lassiter probably preferred a harder tip, probably LePros. Mosconi, the original French Champion. Getting a good look at their cues when they played the first legends tournament in Atlantic City, Mosconi was definitely using the Champion, and Lassiter was using a single layer tip, so I'm going to assume it was probably a LePro.

Champion and Crown? Not just the lack of a fiber backing. Two completely different tips. The Champions had a lighter color, the Crown, a slightly darker color. I'd have to say the Crowns were a bit firmer too. They were made by the same guy in the old days. I'd have to say the French guy gave the rejects the Crown name, because they had a bit of a black base, but not very consistent, and they didn't play as well.

All the best,
WW

1729650078536.jpeg
 
WildWing said:
If you're talking most of say, 1960s through 1970s, most players used French Champion tips. That is not to be confused with the later Chandivert tips, which were just not the same. Since you've included Lassiter and Mosconi, Lassiter probably preferred a harder tip, probably LePros. Mosconi, the original French Champion. Getting a good look at their cues when they played the first legends tournament in Atlantic City, Mosconi was definitely using the Champion, and Lassiter was using a single layer tip, so I'm going to assume it was probably a LePro.

Champion and Crown? Not just the lack of a fiber backing. Two completely different tips. The Champions had a lighter color, the Crown, a slightly darker color. I'd have to say the Crowns were a bit firmer too. They were made by the same guy in the old days. I'd have to say the French guy gave the rejects the Crown name, because they had a bit of a black base, but not very consistent, and they didn't play as well.

All the best,
WW

View attachment 785939
Click to expand...
In the 60's -70's I used to play with Champion.

But, I used to cut off the 'Red fiber' backing.

I never could understand why a player would want a 'Shock Absorber' between the 'Tendon/shaft' and the tip!

I want to be able to 'Feel' the response of the 'Hit' from the tip thru the shaft! This way I'll really know how much the 'Tip' compresses with certain amounts of 'Effect' and 'Quantity of ball' thru the entire cue!
 
mr3cushion said:
In the 60's -70's I used to play with Champion.

But, I used to cut off the 'Red fiber' backing.

I never could understand why a player would want a 'Shock Absorber' between the 'Tendon/shaft' and the tip!

I want to be able to 'Feel' the response of the 'Hit' from the tip thru the shaft! This way I'll really know how much the 'Tip' compresses with certain amounts of 'Effect' and 'Quantity of ball' thru the entire cue!
Click to expand...
A lot of players feel the same that you do, nothing between the leather and the ferrule. I understand that, but I'll give a couple reasons for preferring the fiber base. One, it slightly dampens the hit a bit, if that's what you prefer. Two, fast forward to modern times, if you have a nice fiber backing already on your ferrule it's easier to put on another tip, be it layered, or whatever. The reason for that is that you can get the sandpaper nice and close without scratching or taking down the ferrule. As always, your mileage varies.

All the best,
WW
 
WildWing said:
If you're talking most of say, 1960s through 1970s, most players used French Champion tips. That is not to be confused with the later Chandivert tips, which were just not the same. Since you've included Lassiter and Mosconi, Lassiter probably preferred a harder tip, probably LePros. Mosconi, the original French Champion. Getting a good look at their cues when they played the first legends tournament in Atlantic City, Mosconi was definitely using the Champion, and Lassiter was using a single layer tip, so I'm going to assume it was probably a LePro.

Champion and Crown? Not just the lack of a fiber backing. Two completely different tips. The Champions had a lighter color, the Crown, a slightly darker color. I'd have to say the Crowns were a bit firmer too. They were made by the same guy in the old days. I'd have to say the French guy gave the rejects the Crown name, because they had a bit of a black base, but not very consistent, and they didn't play as well.

All the best,
WW

View attachment 785939
Click to expand...

I remember going through a box of these at the pool hall and usually just finding a few that I liked -- the QC was non-existent and it was indeed like a box of chocolates.

Lou Figueroa
 
WildWing said:
A lot of players feel the same that you do, nothing between the leather and the ferrule. I understand that, but I'll give a couple reasons for preferring the fiber base. One, it slightly dampens the hit a bit, if that's what you prefer. Two, fast forward to modern times, if you have a nice fiber backing already on your ferrule it's easier to put on another tip, be it layered, or whatever. The reason for that is that you can get the sandpaper nice and close without scratching or taking down the ferrule. As always, your mileage varies.

All the best,
WW
Click to expand...

One more reason: if your cue has ivory ferrules it will significantly lessen the odds of fracturing them. A few years back I opted to go without pads on two tip replacements... bad idea.

Lou Figueroa
 
lfigueroa said:
I remember going through a box of these at the pool hall and usually just finding a few that I liked -- the QC was non-existent and it was indeed like a box of chocolates.

Lou Figueroa
Click to expand...
Single layer tips are a crap shoot, aren't they. You might have had later Champion tips than me. Mine were bought in the 70s, and are pretty consistent, even under use today. I still have a few on various shafts of various cues; I still like the hit. I think it's sort of like comparing the LePros of the 70s to the LePros of today. The older ones, definitely better.

Also agree with your later comment on fiber pads on ivory ferrules. I think it's a necessity, regardless of the tip.

All the best,
WW
 
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