well,
back in 1972, when pool was new in Germany, I started with a 11,5mm Carom cue (nothing else available then)
in 1978, with the help from a friend serving the forces in Ger, I got my first american pool cue.
It was a custom made Tim Scruggs w. two Shafts (12,5 and 13mm) in a nice 1/2...