I am sure you can identify these cues (original Balabushka)

[Chopdoc]

With the years revealed, the East Coast clue, and the missing info in the COA descriptions, that pretty much narrowed it down to GB.

The original post was clever by not suggesting they were not GB, and at the same time allowing one to think they might not be.

Very cool!

Thanks for showing them off!

 

[Lepine]

I was hoping the cues would be so obviously made by George Balabushka that no LOA would be necessary to convince people. Well, fortunately, these were both authenticated and one comes with a hand written and signed letter from Larry Lisciotti

 

[Chopdoc]

I was hoping the cues would be so obviously made by George Balabushka that no LOA would be necessary to convince people. Well, fortunately, these were both authenticated and one comes with a hand written and signed letter from Larry LisciottiView attachment 837782

Once I saw the edited COA, it was more obvious. I actually recognized that. At first I only looked at the cue pics.

The cues are another matter. Sure, we thought it immediately. But without seeing more details, like under the bumper, many won't want to guess it first.

Why? Because there are so many tributes, copies, clones, and fakes. And we have all been fooled before. As the saying goes, there are more GB cues today than when he died.

Typically people immediately look for signs of a fake, like a wrap that does not seem correct, or a buzz ring that's different. But there is more than enough variety in the real cues to keep any observer on their toes.

I was recently lamenting how slow the cue gallery has been. Your post was really amazing. I am so glad you did it the way you did.

Those cues are truly treasures.

 

[Lepine]

This is where it becomes debatable / interesting.
How entertaining is the estimate proposed by AI. You can do this yourself and see if you get the same off the wall results from your favorite generative AI. I believe the shafts are not this expensive. A similar Lisciotti Balabushka was likely sold for under $50k. This cue was purchased directly from Tascarella Custom Cues. Also, look at the honey color of these shafts. It's quite amazing these are in such great condition as written in the letter from Larry.

 

[Lepine]

Should be obvious from UVA spectrum lights, shafts original, lacquer original. Fancy cue irish linen replaced with newer but correct Cortland irish linen. Lisciotti linen original Cortland and originally wrapped in 1960s. One leather tip not original type. Bumpers different types. Pete Jr explained these are correct original to the cue bumper.

 

[Lepine]

The Lisciotti Balabushka is completely original and mint.

The fancy is mint but because of the wrap, not all original.

 

[Lepine]

The Lisciotti cue has a weight bolt

 

[Chopdoc]

How entertaining is the estimate proposed by AI.

In my opinion the available AI is exactly that...entertainment.

I do not believe it should be used for anything serious. Good evidence based research demonstrates it is often wrong, and worse, it often lies. When challenged on lies it creates evidence to support the lie.

This has been referred to as hallucination, which is actually a euphemism for lies.

 

[Lepine]

I would be interesting to see what the actual price was for the Mizerak - Lisciotti Balabushka. I think that is the closest comparable price history, is anyone aware of any other Balabushka cues that have similar provinance and correctly documented sales prices?

 

[Chopdoc]

I would be interesting to see what the actual price was for the Mizerak - Lisciotti Balabushka. I think that is the closest comparable price history, is anyone aware of any other Balabushka cues that have similar provinance and correctly documented sales prices?

Wow. That's a challenge. I would love to see valid comparables.

Many such deals are not in the public eye. And the cues are often squirreled away, sometimes (too often) in foreign collections.

 

[Lepine]

I also find this interesting

 

[WildWing]

I would be interesting to see what the actual price was for the Mizerak - Lisciotti Balabushka. I think that is the closest comparable price history, is anyone aware of any other Balabushka cues that have similar provinance and correctly documented sales prices?

Yes, Willie Mosconi's Balabushka went for between 90 and 100 grand on a Hunt auction something like 15 years ago.

 

[WildWing]

The Lisciotti cue has a weight bolt View attachment 837821

To me, this is one of the more interesting pictures of one of the cues. If you'd have shown this up front, I probably would have said not necessarily a Balabushka. Reason is, most of them had a metal insert, sometimes called a Tang, where a smaller aluminum screw went into. If nothing else, this dispels the notion or myth that all Balabushkas had the same weight bolt treatment.

 

[WildWing]

Correct, the one he won off of Mizerak is a Gus Szamboti blank cue with wood butt sleeve, maple windows and I think ivory arch inlays connecting the windows.

My cue was owned by Larry Lisciotti from 1986 to 1991. It was the acrylic butt sleeve era. You could see in all the photos of the inlays where he chipped away the round circle holes into the diamond shapes to add the mop slotted diamonds.

Here are some better pictures of the later Lisciotti Balabushka. Looks like it was on sale way back then for 55K. You may recognize the owner at the time, not sure.

Thread 'Mizerak's Balabushka including LOA's 55k/Trade option'

Jun 20, 2010

Hello AZ members

To assist the sale I have modified the price and included the actual pics of the letters of authenticity's from a few of the people we respect the most in the pool environment such as Grady, Jim Rempe and Jimmy Fusco

These letters were all written in the actuall handwriting and format of the author and how he actually remembered not only the cue and it's history but the specific stories surrounding the relationships they shared witht the two owners. Take a minute to read the three LOA's.....I can only imagine the short talk that surrounded Larrry and Steve and the...

• 1glibby1
• Replies: 18
• Forum: For Sale Items

• 

 

[Lepine]

To me, this is one of the more interesting pictures of one of the cues. If you'd have shown this up front, I probably would have said not necessarily a Balabushka. Reason is, most of them had a metal insert, sometimes called a Tang, where a smaller aluminum screw went into. If nothing else, this dispels the notion or myth that all Balabushkas had the same weight bolt treatment.

Pete Jr. said without any hesitation, this is a correct method for George Balabushka to attach the butt cap. He showed me at least 4 different types of butt caps and said George did do this with the weight bolt.

 

[WildWing]

Pete Jr. said without any hesitation, this is a correct method for George Balabushka to attach the butt cap. He showed me at least 4 different types of butt caps and said George did do this with the weight bolt.
View attachment 837906

Not doubting you a bit. If you search though, you will also find some Tang with smaller screw insert assemblies for Balabushka cues as well. My impression is most of them were done that way, but now I wonder how most of his later cues, say 1970 through 1975 were done.

 

[Lepine]

Yes, I have spent some time on Classiccues.com and seen the normal allen bolt method. It has been suggested to me by a person connected to that site that sometimes players needed to change the weight or balance of the cue from the original delivery. This could have been a later modification as well. But, I believe Pete Sr./Jr. are going to have the best knowledge and they said George did this.

 

[WildWing]

Yes, I have spent some time on Classiccues.com and seen the normal allen bolt method. It has been suggested to me by a person connected to that site that sometimes players needed to change the weight or balance of the cue from the original delivery. This could have been a later modification as well. But, I believe Pete Sr./Jr. are going to have the best knowledge and they said George did this.

One thing I can't help but think about, is the typical groove at the bottom of the delrin buttplate left by the Forstner bit that George used to shape the inside of the butt plate. That groove at the outside edge of the inside of the buttplate always built up a little brown residue, likely from the brown KU bumper. This buttplate does not really show that. It could be that to modify the inside of the buttplate to accept a more typical weight bolt, George had to somehow drill deeper into the buttplate, with some instrument, getting rid of that typical groove with built-up residue. I would imagine the Tascarellas took that into account, but I couldn't help but wonder about it. But that would be a question for them.

 

[Lepine]

They would definitely know more than I. If you find out anything, I would be interested. Have you looked closely at the bumper itself? It has obviously indentations from the weight bolt, but also from the butt cap on the outter edges of the bottom of the bumper.

 

[Chopdoc]

One thing I can't help but think about, is the typical groove at the bottom of the delrin buttplate left by the Forstner bit that George used to shape the inside of the butt plate. That groove at the outside edge of the inside of the buttplate always built up a little brown residue, likely from the brown KU bumper. This buttplate does not really show that. It could be that to modify the inside of the buttplate to accept a more typical weight bolt, George had to somehow drill deeper into the buttplate, with some instrument, getting rid of that typical groove with built-up residue. I would imagine the Tascarellas took that into account, but I couldn't help but wonder about it. But that would be a question for them.

I have seen and heard about that groove as well.