Fred J Velten from Marin, California?

T

tearthecloth

New member
Hey gang, when I was a fresh grad and also getting into pool a bit more waaay back in the mid 90’s, I happened almost randomly (because there was no Google Maps or AI back then) on the shop of a local cuemaker in Marin County, California by the name of Fred J Velten. He was a kindly older gent who didn’t seem to mind spending time showing a young clueless and broke dude his whole pile of blanks, cues in progress, equipment, etc. In another life I think it would’ve been cool getting a job there sweeping floors. Come to find out, he passed in 2004 after a prolonged illness, and I get the sense that his output wasn’t that high, but does anyone here know much about this man or his work?
 
tearthecloth said:
Based on the hour or so I spent with the man over 30 years ago, I think I’d agree! I’m hoping someone here might’ve actually gotten a cue from him, too…
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I've been around the Bay Area for a long time, and I don't recall hearing of Fred. You might try contacting Lee Simon, the owner of Buffalo Billiards in Petaluma. He's been in Marin/Sonoma his whole life.
 
Lee Simon doesn't have any of his cues anymore unfortunately, but generally mentioned most of the things that were in the obituary. Very well liked guy, was actually doing cue work with only one good hand at the end.

He had a funny, and kind of disturbing, story about the get together they had for Fred after he died. Many people got up and said good things about Fred, and then one pool player gets up and starts ranting about how he would beat all the pool other players in attendance and made it all about himself.

People were pretty disgusted with the guy. Danny Lim I believe he said the guys name was or something like that.
 
Haha that’s pretty tweaked hahaha. It’s kind of a shame Fred didn’t leave a bigger pool cue legacy, he was such a cool gentleman.

Well I really appreciate you asking Lee. I gotta get up there again soon, if for nothing else than the waaay cheaper daytime table rates compared to SF!
 
Fred's tiny shop was tucked away behind another business near the border of Corte Madera and Kentfield (across from Bread and Roses if you happen to know the area). The late forum member, L.S. Dennis had Fred make him a couple of shafts for his Helmstetter. From my one visit, probably mid-90s, I remember him as a really pleasant older guy. Of course, now I'm an older guy.
 
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