Is this a Balner or maybe a Paradise?

Benelli

Benelli

Well-known member
Picked this up with a couple of Rambows, clearly not from Herman when I compare to all my other Rambows and none of them have a butt cap or screw that modern. But looking at the butt cap and overall build quality it looks kind of like a Paradise or a Balner to me.

Figured I would kick the hive mind here and see what opinions fall out.

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That is a fine vintage cue. I wish I could help ID it but all I know about Rambow cues is I don't have one. Looks like Brownheart, the weight bolt seems a little odd for that era? The shape of the butt cap should be a clue to those that know. If I were to have guessed I would have probably leaned towards Rambow.
 
So update on this hunt, I have been extremely fortunate to have had conversations with both Chris Tate and Peter Balner about this cue. I am sincerely grateful for them taking time out of their lives to help ponder on this stick.

I've been able to rule out both Paradise and Palmer and no one who has looked at it thinks Herman Rambow ever touched it.

General consensus is it was built from a Titlist one-piece cue and was not sectioned but is still intact. The butt cap, joint, wrap, and MoP inlay were all done by the original maker. Whoever built it made a great cue...

The search continues.
 
If you think that the ferrule and tip are original than that could tell you if it was a 60s or 70s made cue as there were a limited number of tips and ferrule material used back then.
Jim Odom out of Texas was a big Rambow fan and this could be an early Odom cue from his start back in the 90s - he used Delrin on many butt caps and Le pro tips , Aegis or Ivory ferrules.
 
i had gene make that exact cue and others from house sticks i would bring him in the 1960's.
my basic model was his number 4. without that black ring. also had a white one sometimes.
they were to mimic rambow cues to some extent.
they cost me 25 dollars with irish linen.
no pearl insert though.
 
Too early for Palmer. The shaft tenon does not resemble those by Palmer. The early Palmer weight bolts were usually more recessed than this one. The shaft tenon does resemble those by Frank Paradise. Most of Frank's had more recessed weight bolts, but not all. What is the thread size in the joint pin? What is the length of the butt and shaft? Makes a lot of difference.
 
mikemosconi said:
If you think that the ferrule and tip are original than that could tell you if it was a 60s or 70s made cue as there were a limited number of tips and ferrule material used back then.
Jim Odom out of Texas was a big Rambow fan and this could be an early Odom cue from his start back in the 90s - he used Delrin on many butt caps and Le pro tips , Aegis or Ivory ferrules.
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So everyone I've had look at it dates the cue early to mid 60's, most likely an East Coast maker probably New Jersey

I probably should have probed more on the New Jersey part but when Peter Balner says NJ I know he sees things that I can't.
 
WildWing said:
Too early for Palmer. The shaft tenon does not resemble those by Palmer. The early Palmer weight bolts were usually more recessed than this one. The shaft tenon does resemble those by Frank Paradise. Most of Frank's had more recessed weight bolts, but not all. What is the thread size in the joint pin? What is the length of the butt and shaft? Makes a lot of difference.
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Joint is 5/16-14, I would need to grab those other measurements when I get back from kid's Spring Break
 
Benelli said:
So everyone I've had look at it dates the cue early to mid 60's, most likely an East Coast maker probably New Jersey

I probably should have probed more on the New Jersey part but when Peter Balner says NJ I know he sees things that I can't.
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Mike Fedunka- possible? Karl Mayer- possible? could be a one off from anybody in that era.
 
mikemosconi said:
Mike Fedunka- possible? Karl Mayer- possible? could be a one off from anybody in that era.
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Outstanding suggestions! I had not looked at either of those makers and quick google image searches showed cues for both that had similar traits.
 
i dont know who made it but i did have gene make shafts with 14 threads as well as the long tenons so for a tighter shaft fit.
frank did that as well if asked.
pete was not around in those days in the shops as far as i know. never saw him.

they are right that the butt screw looks different.

but lots of the old cues went in for repairs to other makers for shafts or new ones and butts that got cracked from players banging them.
 
Looks like a rambow with a different shaft, the phenolic looks different on the shaft and but cap bolt doesn't look correct. Maybe changed so a bumper could be used. Rambow used shellac and it definitely looks like a old shellac finish. Chemical testing will tell you for sure. Is the wrap tucked at the bottom? Have u measured it to determine if the cue is a conversion or made from a blank? If uv testing rules out Rambow, Gus Szamboti made a similar cue in 69/70. I know nothing about the details of his cues but he made some using titlist blanks and mop dots in the points.
 
it isnt a new york or new jersey cue. likely made by rambow
and could have been anything that was redone even an old viking.
 
Benelli said:
Picked this up with a couple of Rambows, clearly not from Herman when I compare to all my other Rambows and none of them have a butt cap or screw that modern. But looking at the butt cap and overall build quality it looks kind of like a Paradise or a Balner to me.

Figured I would kick the hive mind here and see what opinions fall out.

PXL-20250226-022017230.jpg

PXL-20250226-022033465.jpg

PXL-20250226-022021155.jpg

PXL-20250226-022026606.jpg

PXL-20250226-022038461.jpg

PXL-20250226-022044205.jpg
Click to expand...
Pretty sure that's not a Paradise cue. I saw dozens of them and never one that looked anything like that.
 
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