I bought this amazing cue in December, showed it to cuemakers, collectors and dealers at Valley Forge, to a person everyone was in awe of the craftsmanship, precision machining, attention to detail and amount of work that went into the cue.
I would like to see more Cal Hedden cues, anybody know where there is another one?
Mr. Hedden was a well rounded person from everything he accomplished, read the biographical information below.
CALVIN M. HEDDEN (1919-2001)
Calvin Martin "Cal" Hedden, 81, of 34 Rainbow Drive, Pekin, IL died Sunday, March 11, 2001.
Born December 9, 1919 in McCracken County, Kentucky to Frank Calvin and Minnie Martin Berry Hedden.
He married Judy Elaine Stroup November 22, 1992 at Steak n Shake in Pekin. She survives.
He was a World War II United States Navy veteran.
A precision machinist for 58 years, he worked at Caterpillar, Inc. in East Peoria, Morton Metalcraft in Morton, E.M. Smith & Co. and Linn Julian Tool & Die, both in Peoria, Armitage Machine Company in Bartonville, and Tompco in North Pekin, retiring in 1993.
He also had owned and operated HH Precision Machine Shop, Cal's Photography, and a motorcycle shop, all in Pekin.
Cal built trikes (three wheeled motorcycles) and loved to ride. He was a charter member and past president of the Celestial City Riders Motorcycle Club.
A pool enthusiast, he owned and operated Cue Paradise in Pekin from 1967 to 1972 where he and an old professional pool player by the name of Don Tozier were known to run large straight pool tournaments.
Although Cal Hedden is not one of the most well-known cuemakers and unfortunately was never added to the Blue Book of Pool Cues; his cues were known in the Chicago and Illinois area back in the 1960's through 70's, his exquisite work and construction of cues were ahead of his time.
He was a Santa Claus for 25 years, he had long white hair and a full white beard.
He was also was an artist.
He was a charter member and past president of the Pekin Archery Club and had instructed many including Olympic Medalist Vick Wunderlee. The Pekin Park District named the building at the archery range after Mr. Hedden. He was a member of the National Archery Association.
He attended Glad Tidings Assembly of God in East Peoria and the First Assembly of God in Pekin. He was a former member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kevil, Kentucky.
Cue description
Cal Hedden circa 1971 custom pool/billiard cue
This pool/billiard cue was made for Cal's daughter, Linda (a striving women's professional pool player), for a birthday present and is probably his best and most elaborate work performed on a cue.
The forearm is a straight grain maple Brunswick Titlist with four rosewood points and veneers of purple, green, mahogany and maple.
The points are inlaid with large mother of pearl notched diamonds and the top of each point is inlaid with a circle of black and pearlized gold.
The handle of the cue is rosewood with marquetry style inlays. Within the marquetry work is gunstock checkering to the quality that would make any gunsmith proud, the checkering is surrounded by a triple veneer of maple, ebony, maple. In the center of the checkering are two mother of pearl notched diamonds surrounded by veneers of maple and ebony. Two strips of ornamental furniture banding are inlaid the length of the handle twisting 180 degrees.
At the ‘A’ joint are two black rings, two gold pearlized rings, and one white pearlized ring with gold inlays of the initials, "L.H." in fancy Gothic style lettering.
The cue is jointed at the ‘A’ joint, the forearm is cored and a 2 ¾” x 11/16” tenon with a 5/16” x 18 brass screw on the handle is threaded into a metal insert in the cored forearm.
The butt sleeve features a clear window with a gold anodized aluminum ring that is inscribed - "Designed & Handmade 1971 By Daddy" "For Punky Punk".
The window is in between rings of gold pearlized plastic and three black and three white pearlized rings that are comparable to Paradise or Palmer cues.
The joint is piloted nickel silver with a 5/16” x 18 brass pin, the billiard shaft is double threaded like an old Viking cue.
There are two shafts - one 28 3/4" 12.5mm with a 1" ferrule, the diameter remains 12.5mm for 9 ½” and one 28 1/4" 12.4mm with a 1 1/4" ferrule, the diameter remains 12.4mm for 14 ½”. Cal was known for long tapered shafts.
Both shafts have joint collars of nickel silver with two black rings and one white pearlized ring with four gold pearlized dots.
The billiard? shaft is inlaid with a total of 36 black dots and diamonds into an 8” piece of curly maple that is attached to the straight grain maple shaft with a ring of cocobolo.
The butt of the cue measures 27 3/4" and weighs 18 ounces, total cue weight is 22.3 ounces.
View attachment 92868
I would like to see more Cal Hedden cues, anybody know where there is another one?
Mr. Hedden was a well rounded person from everything he accomplished, read the biographical information below.
CALVIN M. HEDDEN (1919-2001)
Calvin Martin "Cal" Hedden, 81, of 34 Rainbow Drive, Pekin, IL died Sunday, March 11, 2001.
Born December 9, 1919 in McCracken County, Kentucky to Frank Calvin and Minnie Martin Berry Hedden.
He married Judy Elaine Stroup November 22, 1992 at Steak n Shake in Pekin. She survives.
He was a World War II United States Navy veteran.
A precision machinist for 58 years, he worked at Caterpillar, Inc. in East Peoria, Morton Metalcraft in Morton, E.M. Smith & Co. and Linn Julian Tool & Die, both in Peoria, Armitage Machine Company in Bartonville, and Tompco in North Pekin, retiring in 1993.
He also had owned and operated HH Precision Machine Shop, Cal's Photography, and a motorcycle shop, all in Pekin.
Cal built trikes (three wheeled motorcycles) and loved to ride. He was a charter member and past president of the Celestial City Riders Motorcycle Club.
A pool enthusiast, he owned and operated Cue Paradise in Pekin from 1967 to 1972 where he and an old professional pool player by the name of Don Tozier were known to run large straight pool tournaments.
Although Cal Hedden is not one of the most well-known cuemakers and unfortunately was never added to the Blue Book of Pool Cues; his cues were known in the Chicago and Illinois area back in the 1960's through 70's, his exquisite work and construction of cues were ahead of his time.
He was a Santa Claus for 25 years, he had long white hair and a full white beard.
He was also was an artist.
He was a charter member and past president of the Pekin Archery Club and had instructed many including Olympic Medalist Vick Wunderlee. The Pekin Park District named the building at the archery range after Mr. Hedden. He was a member of the National Archery Association.
He attended Glad Tidings Assembly of God in East Peoria and the First Assembly of God in Pekin. He was a former member of the Mt. Zion Baptist Church in Kevil, Kentucky.
Cue description
Cal Hedden circa 1971 custom pool/billiard cue
This pool/billiard cue was made for Cal's daughter, Linda (a striving women's professional pool player), for a birthday present and is probably his best and most elaborate work performed on a cue.
The forearm is a straight grain maple Brunswick Titlist with four rosewood points and veneers of purple, green, mahogany and maple.
The points are inlaid with large mother of pearl notched diamonds and the top of each point is inlaid with a circle of black and pearlized gold.
The handle of the cue is rosewood with marquetry style inlays. Within the marquetry work is gunstock checkering to the quality that would make any gunsmith proud, the checkering is surrounded by a triple veneer of maple, ebony, maple. In the center of the checkering are two mother of pearl notched diamonds surrounded by veneers of maple and ebony. Two strips of ornamental furniture banding are inlaid the length of the handle twisting 180 degrees.
At the ‘A’ joint are two black rings, two gold pearlized rings, and one white pearlized ring with gold inlays of the initials, "L.H." in fancy Gothic style lettering.
The cue is jointed at the ‘A’ joint, the forearm is cored and a 2 ¾” x 11/16” tenon with a 5/16” x 18 brass screw on the handle is threaded into a metal insert in the cored forearm.
The butt sleeve features a clear window with a gold anodized aluminum ring that is inscribed - "Designed & Handmade 1971 By Daddy" "For Punky Punk".
The window is in between rings of gold pearlized plastic and three black and three white pearlized rings that are comparable to Paradise or Palmer cues.
The joint is piloted nickel silver with a 5/16” x 18 brass pin, the billiard shaft is double threaded like an old Viking cue.
There are two shafts - one 28 3/4" 12.5mm with a 1" ferrule, the diameter remains 12.5mm for 9 ½” and one 28 1/4" 12.4mm with a 1 1/4" ferrule, the diameter remains 12.4mm for 14 ½”. Cal was known for long tapered shafts.
Both shafts have joint collars of nickel silver with two black rings and one white pearlized ring with four gold pearlized dots.
The billiard? shaft is inlaid with a total of 36 black dots and diamonds into an 8” piece of curly maple that is attached to the straight grain maple shaft with a ring of cocobolo.
The butt of the cue measures 27 3/4" and weighs 18 ounces, total cue weight is 22.3 ounces.
View attachment 92868
