Balabushka
- Thread starter pk249
- Start date
I don’t know about his collection but I think that it is a changing market for such cues. The target market for these cues is aging out for one. Also, the ability to resell down the road is becoming more questionable - at least from a financial investment standpoint.
The money that such cues were exchanging hands 20 years ago and even longer is actually more money than most are sold for today in comparative real value dollars.
In 1992 a former room owner that I knew sold his GB cue for $5,000 - That cue would never sell for today’s 1992 equivalent of $5,000. If it did - it would be break even at best.
The money that such cues were exchanging hands 20 years ago and even longer is actually more money than most are sold for today in comparative real value dollars.
In 1992 a former room owner that I knew sold his GB cue for $5,000 - That cue would never sell for today’s 1992 equivalent of $5,000. If it did - it would be break even at best.
pk249
Registered
Thanks Mike, rarely see them coming up for sale these days (unless I’m missing something).
I believe that those who own one today - at least most current owners- wanted one for their personal possession and not for resale. They are the 65 + crowd- and those that thought that there would always be a rising and ever available larger market now see the reality.
I may yet obtain one myself a little way down the road - but not as an investment for sure. I already had a Gus Palmer and I liked it a lot in terms of construction/ since I play a lot of 14.1 - old school hitting cues have a place in my game.
My sons would want the cue someday for sure - and that makes me truly happy, knowing that the cue would be much more meaningful than an investment for me.
I may yet obtain one myself a little way down the road - but not as an investment for sure. I already had a Gus Palmer and I liked it a lot in terms of construction/ since I play a lot of 14.1 - old school hitting cues have a place in my game.
My sons would want the cue someday for sure - and that makes me truly happy, knowing that the cue would be much more meaningful than an investment for me.
Inflation calculator shows 5k in 1992 as 11.5K today.
I believe you seldom see bushkas for sale because the collectors that tend to own Bushkas are financially comfortable enough to sit on them and not worry about the decreasing market value. Flippers, or casual (less expansive) cue collectors are more reactive to cue market trends.
Another reason: At one time, if you were a serious / professional player, there was a belief that some cues played heads and shoulders above other cues. Owning one would elevate your game. So owning a Gus or Bushka were functional and had a practical purpose. Now, there's so many good hitting cues (custom and production), that belief is on life support if not completely dead.
pk249
Registered
Nice way to look at things
Got to agree with the assessments already mentioned here.
My assumption is folks that collect expensive cues generally speaking have generational capitol. So they likely do not care much about resale values.
They collect for enjoyment and because they can afford too.
One close friend is close to 80 now and for the last 8 years has been selling off his collections.
His children and grandchildren have no interest so he can enjoy selling as much as collecting!
My assumption is folks that collect expensive cues generally speaking have generational capitol. So they likely do not care much about resale values.
They collect for enjoyment and because they can afford too.
One close friend is close to 80 now and for the last 8 years has been selling off his collections.
His children and grandchildren have no interest so he can enjoy selling as much as collecting!
RidgeRaider
Well-known member
Pretty much.
I have an old timer friend who has a pretty ridiculous guitar collection. He has no reason to ever recover the money he spent on the guitars. He's rich, and he bought them to purely enjoy. He said he doesn't care what happens to them when he dies. Kids can sell em, keep em, burn em.
I imagine a lot of "priceless" cues end up the same.
I get what some posters are saying. From strictly an investment point of view.
What they are missing is that there are at LEAST two other ways to consider the ownership.
Just as an example, I personally saw cues that sold in the past year (approx) for $55,100, $77,000,
$107,000, and orders for $120,000 and $100,000 even. That’s just in my little corner of our
genre. (Not me!). Every one of the cues involved different cuemakers and I assure you age was not an issue.
This doesn’t include the many, many cues that sold for $15k-$40k. And age is all over the place.
Don’t necessarily judge by personal experience.
Will Prout
What they are missing is that there are at LEAST two other ways to consider the ownership.
Just as an example, I personally saw cues that sold in the past year (approx) for $55,100, $77,000,
$107,000, and orders for $120,000 and $100,000 even. That’s just in my little corner of our
genre. (Not me!). Every one of the cues involved different cuemakers and I assure you age was not an issue.
This doesn’t include the many, many cues that sold for $15k-$40k. And age is all over the place.
Don’t necessarily judge by personal experience.
Will Prout
Sure, there will always be exceptions. But if we had to bet the average or median age of current Bushka owners, and the line was 60 years old, I would bet the over.
Having said already that I intuitively understand what you are saying.
I would also say I have no way on Planet Earth to understand and agree with the number 60.
Pulled from somewhere, but I am clueless where you got it.
What percentage of Bushka owners are right-handed?
How many are married?
How many take their cue to a poolroom?
How many are women?
How many are over 180 pounds?
How many live east of the Mississippi?
How many Bushka owners also own a Szamboti?
How many have been to Valley Forge at least once?
How many Bushkas have been sold since 2020 Covid started?
How many…….
Again, if you hear me you know I get your point. Just find declarative statements fuzzy.
People use your argument with sports cars. Have you followed Mecum?
……………………………………. Guns.
…………………………………..…Coins.
………………………………………Stamps. Rare pool tables. Etc….not exceptions. Really not.
Btw, I sold a 1995 Josswest a couple hours ago for $12,000 to a fine young man.
Will Prout
I know this thread is about 'bushkas, but there's no telling what this could fetch. Mosconi's 526 Rambow from the Glenn Collection.
Yours truly holding a piece of billiards history.
Nice. There was a kid in our Chicago suburb that ordered one in I think 1964-65.... $80 new lot of money. His father was a doctor. Me, I'd rather own a Buska that played good and use it. Thx for the memories. Swank Cue Club, Roosevelt Rd. Glen Ellyn IL. 60137.... Then Gordon Hart started showing up.
View attachment 879909
was that supposed to be the cue he used or just one of his cues that has that writing on it.
i only ask because i dont remember him playing ever with a cue like that.
I understand your point too. I didn't quite understand the introduction of analogies to other random correlations because the discussion started around just age. The age of 60 was simply my guess as a decent starting point in a hypothetical bet to one side or the other of 60 (the over / under). I stated I would take the over (that's just me, others may take the under...and maybe they would be correct). I don't believe I ever stated in absolutes the average age for Bushka owners was "60". If I did, then you would be correct, I would have no way on planet earth of knowing that. Similarly, you also would have no way on planet earth to definitively state an age either.
If we are going share anecdotal evidence from personal experience / observation, I personally know a few dozen current owners of Bushkas and most are older gentleman well into their 60s and beyond. I agree though, the exact average age will never be known for certain - it's just forum conversation focused on sharing our thoughts and beliefs on the subject. You undoubtedly know way more about pool cues and cue collecting than myself, but that doesn't stop me from having my own experiences, opinions and beliefs. That diversity of opinions and experiences is what makes forums like this interesting.
I think you're sensitive on the subject cuz you're sitting on a gazillion dollars' worth of collectible cues. Don't worry, while the number of collectors may be shrinking, it's a big world and there will always be collectors - both young an old.