Mike Capone Cue Maker
Mike Capone is a highly regarded custom cue maker based in New Jersey, who began crafting cues under the Capone Cues brand in 1993. He started playing pool as a teenager, which sparked his interest in the craft. Capone is known for his high-quality workmanship, particularly in creating identifiable cues with features like engraved radial joint pins. He has built a strong reputation among players and fellow cue makers for producing some of the best-playing cues available. Since at least the early 2010s, he has served as the president of the American Cuemakers Association (ACA), a role that underscores his leadership in promoting American-made cues as collectible art forms. The ACA, founded in 1992, focuses on maintaining high standards, educating the public, and advancing cuemaking as a unique American tradition. Capone often specializes in conversions and custom designs, including those based on classic blanks like Titlist cues, and his work is featured at events such as the International Cue Collector Show.
History of Titliest Pool Cues
“Titliest”) trace their origins to Brunswick, one of the most iconic names in billiards history. The story begins with the Brunswick 26 1/2 cue, introduced in the early 1900s as a one-piece cue featuring four points, colorful veneers, and exotic woods, quickly becoming one of the most popular designs ever. In the 1930s, Brunswick evolved this into a line of full-splice one-piece cues. By the late 1930s, it was renamed the “Carom King,” but a major shift occurred in 1941 when it was rebranded as the “Willie Hoppe Titlist” in honor of the legendary carom billiards champion Willie Hoppe, who won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. This one-piece Titlist became a staple, often used as house cues in pool halls.
Around 1940, Brunswick also launched the two-piece “Willie Hoppe Professional” cue, which used the Titlist blank as its base, making it one of the most enduring two-piece designs in history. The cues were known for their distinctive splice points (often called “Titlist points” or “26 1/2 style”), weight stamps opposite the signature on the forearm, and evolving decals starting around 1945. Production continued through the mid-20th century, with Brunswick becoming Brunswick Corporation in 1960, after which some labels reflected the change.
Titlist cues gained further fame through “conversions,” where old one-piece house cues are modified by custom makers into high-end two-piece playing cues, preserving the original full-splice butt and veneers while adding modern features like joints and wraps. Early conversions are credited to cue makers like Herman Rambow (who worked at Brunswick starting in 1894) and Harvey Martin in the 1920s, though the practice became widespread later. Today, Titlist conversions by makers like Capone are prized for blending vintage aesthetics with playable performance, often fetching high values among collectors.
Upcoming Cue from Jersey Custom Cue Sales
Mike Capone Titliest Conversion Cue. Matching Titliest Veneer Stitch Rings, Capone Radial Brass Joint Pin, White Phenolic Joint collar, Brown Phenolic Buttcap. Genuine Irish Linen Wrap. 58-inch even Split. The butt weighs 15.2oz, shaft 1 weighs 3.3oz,12.7mm, shaft 2 weighs 3.3oz, 12.5mm. Very clean with just a couple light scratches in the buttsleeve. Signed Capone 2016 under the bumper and verified by Mike Capone,
$2000.00
Absolutely - no trades
Mike Capone is a highly regarded custom cue maker based in New Jersey, who began crafting cues under the Capone Cues brand in 1993. He started playing pool as a teenager, which sparked his interest in the craft. Capone is known for his high-quality workmanship, particularly in creating identifiable cues with features like engraved radial joint pins. He has built a strong reputation among players and fellow cue makers for producing some of the best-playing cues available. Since at least the early 2010s, he has served as the president of the American Cuemakers Association (ACA), a role that underscores his leadership in promoting American-made cues as collectible art forms. The ACA, founded in 1992, focuses on maintaining high standards, educating the public, and advancing cuemaking as a unique American tradition. Capone often specializes in conversions and custom designs, including those based on classic blanks like Titlist cues, and his work is featured at events such as the International Cue Collector Show.
History of Titliest Pool Cues
“Titliest”) trace their origins to Brunswick, one of the most iconic names in billiards history. The story begins with the Brunswick 26 1/2 cue, introduced in the early 1900s as a one-piece cue featuring four points, colorful veneers, and exotic woods, quickly becoming one of the most popular designs ever. In the 1930s, Brunswick evolved this into a line of full-splice one-piece cues. By the late 1930s, it was renamed the “Carom King,” but a major shift occurred in 1941 when it was rebranded as the “Willie Hoppe Titlist” in honor of the legendary carom billiards champion Willie Hoppe, who won 51 world titles between 1906 and 1952. This one-piece Titlist became a staple, often used as house cues in pool halls.
Around 1940, Brunswick also launched the two-piece “Willie Hoppe Professional” cue, which used the Titlist blank as its base, making it one of the most enduring two-piece designs in history. The cues were known for their distinctive splice points (often called “Titlist points” or “26 1/2 style”), weight stamps opposite the signature on the forearm, and evolving decals starting around 1945. Production continued through the mid-20th century, with Brunswick becoming Brunswick Corporation in 1960, after which some labels reflected the change.
Titlist cues gained further fame through “conversions,” where old one-piece house cues are modified by custom makers into high-end two-piece playing cues, preserving the original full-splice butt and veneers while adding modern features like joints and wraps. Early conversions are credited to cue makers like Herman Rambow (who worked at Brunswick starting in 1894) and Harvey Martin in the 1920s, though the practice became widespread later. Today, Titlist conversions by makers like Capone are prized for blending vintage aesthetics with playable performance, often fetching high values among collectors.
Upcoming Cue from Jersey Custom Cue Sales
Mike Capone Titliest Conversion Cue. Matching Titliest Veneer Stitch Rings, Capone Radial Brass Joint Pin, White Phenolic Joint collar, Brown Phenolic Buttcap. Genuine Irish Linen Wrap. 58-inch even Split. The butt weighs 15.2oz, shaft 1 weighs 3.3oz,12.7mm, shaft 2 weighs 3.3oz, 12.5mm. Very clean with just a couple light scratches in the buttsleeve. Signed Capone 2016 under the bumper and verified by Mike Capone, $2000.00
Absolutely - no trades
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