100k balabuska??

Highmiles said:
Question: in the collector car arena, certain cars no longer bring the money they used to be worth, because of the "aging out" of the people who valued them. Is it possible that this is time when we see certain cue brands lose value? In 10 or 15 years will demand for something like a Balabushka be replaced by more modern cue designs?
Click to expand...

speaking to the cars part of your comment, there are a lot of reasons why certain collectible cars have softened. 2013 and 2014 were white hot for collectible cars and there was plenty of value manipulating going on with a number of car categories, like for instance, hemi Mopars. They were being artificially pumped up by auction house shills creating big upward pressure to unsuspecting buyers.

regarding cues, something JV said quite a while ago stays with me, which was:

"The thoroughbreds will always run; the nags, not so much."

imo, there will always be good market for a GB or Gus (and for that matter, a Searing, Gina, Mottey, BB, etc) but values, those will always center on supply and demand.

Even though a lot of the serious cue collectors are getting older, I think there will be enough next-generation guys who will step up and keep it going.

I hope. ;)

Maybe the Asian collectors will have more impact, as well.

best,
brian kc
 
Last edited:
Kickin' Chicken said:
Maybe the Asian collectors will have more impact, as well.
Click to expand...

If the game continues to grow in Asia a cue like this will likely see quite a significant price increase and be a fairly solid investment. That said you need to buy it for the right price today to see the correct ROI in the future, and at 100k it looks like the seller wants 2037 money for the cue in 2017.

All in all though, a very collectable cue. How the heck do you have a unchalked unhit shaft on a 45 year old cue??? I would hit both shafts the say I bought the cue to see if they differ at all and play the one I like best. If I bought that thing it would get buried in a safe and I might pull it out every couple years to look at it.
 
Highmiles said:
Question: in the collector car arena, certain cars no longer bring the money they used to be worth, because of the "aging out" of the people who valued them. Is it possible that this is time when we see certain cue brands lose value? In 10 or 15 years will demand for something like a Balabushka be replaced by more modern cue designs?
Click to expand...

10-15 years from now, a good chunk of makers will still be making their bread and butter by copying Balabushka's work; so, the demand for an original will also still be there.
 
I think The Color Of Money will be one movie that keeps the name "Balabushka" in the collective minds, even long after we're gone... I wouldn't twirl it around in the air, though...
 
classiccues said:
As someone that actually held this cue, it is a gorgeous piece. I would say 90-95% original condition, there was one shaft that still had the paper wrapping from George. (Original tips) I think all the oohs and ahhs from the show drove the price of the cue up. :)

Sad to say I know a few guys that even in this condition would send it for a refinish. :(

JV
Click to expand...

Agree, Joe. I would hang onto this original lacquer finish and Cortland wrap like grim death, no need to refinish. I never witnessed it, but have talked to cuemakers who visited George who said he did old fashioned spray lacquer from cans, several coats with buffing. Assuming that's the case, I wouldn't want to lose that on a cue this nice.

All the best,
WW
 
classiccues said:
As someone that actually held this cue, it is a gorgeous piece. I would say 90-95% original condition, there was one shaft that still had the paper wrapping from George. (Original tips) I think all the oohs and ahhs from the show drove the price of the cue up. :)

Sad to say I know a few guys that even in this condition would send it for a refinish. :(

JV
Click to expand...

It would be very sad if anybody refinished this cue...
 
Highmiles said:
Question: in the collector car arena, certain cars no longer bring the money they used to be worth, because of the "aging out" of the people who valued them. Is it possible that this is time when we see certain cue brands lose value? In 10 or 15 years will demand for something like a Balabushka be replaced by more modern cue designs?
Click to expand...

I collect coins. Another hobby that is dying. The explanation I have heard is the same. Folks like me who took their weekly allowance down to the coin shop and buy coins are aging and the kids today don't collect coins anymore.

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
I collect coins. Another hobby that is dying. The explanation I have heard is the same. Folks like me who took their weekly allowance down to the coin shop and buy coins are aging and the kids today don't collect coins anymore.

Ken
Click to expand...

Well the high end stuff is pretty strong. And there's somewhat of a cult collecting phenomenon with loose change finds - errors and varieties mainly. I still have a soft spot for it, but don't collect as much. I will say, as a kid in the early-mid 80s, I collected quite a bit of uncirculated clad coins from the bank. Some of the values are through the roof now relatively speaking.

The baseball card companies literally killed their own business by turning wax packs into kids' (and adults') lottery tickets with the insert card craze. I built sets from the 80s and 90s that are pretty much blah now.
 
Provenance aside, the craigslist cue and that other one that came out of the woodwork a few years ago are the best looking and most desirable Balabushka's I've seen... by a lot.
 
ideologist said:
Demand won't be replaced, that's the problem
Click to expand...

Demand may not be replaceable but it always comes with a number. If the number is too high there will be no demand. The cue is worth exactly what the person who has the expendable cash is willing to pay for it, if there are 2 or people interested it may help increase the value.
 
HighEndCues said:
If someone is throwing around 6 figures, Ill listen :)
http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=381037
Ken
Click to expand...

Ken - You have always treated me fair, and not trying to be a jerk but I dont think that you should have that cue either.

There are probably less than 100-200 cues that I think should be in a museum somewhere. That Miz cue is one of them, along with the Mosconi Balabushka and the "Golden Balabushka" and several others.

The problem is that these treasures get into private collections, some in US and some overseas that the folks like us cue nuts will never see again.

I wish there was something or someone that could pay you fair value and these SUPER CUES could be in an open collection to the public.

JMO, rant over.

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
Ken - You have always treated me fair, and not trying to be a jerk but I dont think that you should have that cue either.

There are probably less than 100-200 cues that I think should be in a museum somewhere. That Miz cue is one of them, along with the Mosconi Balabushka and the "Golden Balabushka" and several others.

The problem is that these treasures get into private collections, some in US and some overseas that the folks like us cue nuts will never see again.

I wish there was something or someone that could pay you fair value and these SUPER CUES could be in an open collection to the public.

Ken
Click to expand...

Generally agree. Not that Ken shouldn't own the Miz Bushka, but there should be a museum that should pay Ken and others for the historic cues. After all, most, though not all, artwork is treated that way, in museums.

In addition to Mizerak's and Mosconi's Bushka, here are some others I can think of that would belong:

Mosconi's Rambow that ran the 526.
Babe Cranfield's Rambow that ran the 768.
Irving Crane's Bushka that occupied most of his career.
Luther Lassiter's most used cue, could have been a Bushka or Tad. Hard to tell.
Willie Hoppe's famous carom cue, with the splice in the middle of the forearm.
Every Rambow cue used in "The Hustler."
Whatever Eddie Taylor used for most successful bank shots. Probably a Paradise, or a couple.
The first cue which received a leather tip.

It would be a pretty nice museum, would't it... And I haven't covered half of it.

All the best,
WW
 
Ken_4fun said:
Ken - You have always treated me fair, and not trying to be a jerk but I dont think that you should have that cue either.

There are probably less than 100-200 cues that I think should be in a museum somewhere. That Miz cue is one of them, along with the Mosconi Balabushka and the "Golden Balabushka" and several others.

The problem is that these treasures get into private collections, some in US and some overseas that the folks like us cue nuts will never see again.

I wish there was something or someone that could pay you fair value and these SUPER CUES could be in an open collection to the public.

JMO, rant over.

Ken
Click to expand...
Ken,
I do understand your points of view, but there isn't a place as of yet that displays cues that way.

When the families of greats like Mizerak, and Mosconi feel it's time to let these treasures go someone has to step up and purchase them.
I know many of the people who have such "Super Cues" in there collections. Many off them haven't seen the light of day in decades. It is a huge investment and it is understandable.

I have brought The Mizerak "Dove Balabushka" to many shows, such as the ICCS and Expo so people can see and appreciate a piece of history. I have seen this cue bring many smiles to peoples faces.
If/When this cue leaves my collection, I hope they do the same.

Over 20 years ago the Smithsonian had intentions of displaying cues from the top Cue Makers, they just went into the abyss.

Ken
 
Yeesh-

Ken_4fun said:
He must be from Chicago......those folks always think their "poop" doesnt stink.

Ken
Click to expand...

I'm from Chicago, and my diet determines just how bad my "poop" stinks.

Ingesting blanket statements like the one you just made, give me heartburn and might get you a case too ;)

Be mindful not to lump sum people together-cause we know, all the fingers on our hands are not the same, but they're all fingers.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top