1962 Johnson City Classic Trophy Cue

jkmarshall_cues

jkmarshall_cues

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I have here a 1962 Johnson City Trophy Cue that was won that year with WICO points. It has ebony darts and two shafts both with ivory ferrules. I bought it several years ago from an estate sale, but don't have anymore info to pass along.

Any interest??

John


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It is very likely to be a Helmstetter cue. (pre-adam).
The buttcap,weight bolt and shaft insert ,are all found on many early Adam cues. and he sold a lot of his cues in Johnson city back then.

Jayman.

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Here is a joint from a fancy early Helmstetter,

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Pin looks wrong Jay but you are right alot!

My geuss is Dock Fray. It could be a Helmstetter but he signed and dated his cues R C Helmstetter they were full splice butts too. The old Joss looks like mine from years ago. It really played
Also with the Wico blank it could be a Viking.
Nick :)
 
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I would suspect the the cue is a Rich cue or possible even a Palmer, it looks like their joint and pin. However, the 1962 year providence that the cue has been give doesn't seem correct. First of all I do not think that WICO was making point Blanks in 1962, to my knowledge WICO started making Blanks around 1968, Bob Meucci helped set-up the operation. I totally agree that the Blank is WICO, the Veneer colors and the Rosewood points prove that, but this also disputes the date given. Now I am not saying in any way that the cue was not from a Johnson City Tournament, I am only say that it is from a later one.

These blanks were also used by Palmer, and Gus Szamboti on his early cues, before he made his blanks. I am uncertain however, if George Balabushka used any of these blanks.

I an almost certain that the date given for the cue is wrong, however, it is a real nice old cue.
 
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I was also thinking Rich cue looking at the photos and also 1968-1970 timeframe estimate. JMO, ICBW. Cool looking pearl trim rings at the joint.

Martin


manwon said:
I would suspect the the cue is a Rich cue or possible even a Palmer, it looks like their joint and pin. However, the 1962 year providence that the cue has been give doesn't seem correct. First of all I do not think that WICO was making point Blanks in 1962, to my knowledge WICO started making Blanks around 1968, Bob Meucci helped set-up the operation. I totally agree that the Blank is WICO, the Veneer colors and the Rosewood points prove that, but this also dispute the date given. Now I am not saying in any way that the cue was not from a Johnson City Tournament, I am only say that it is from a later one.

These blanks were also used by Palmer, and Gus Szamboti on his early cues, before he made his blanks. I am uncertain however, if George Balabushka used any of these blanks.

I an almost certain that the date given for the cue is wrong, however, it is a real nice old cue.
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jazznpool said:
I was also thinking Rich cue looking at the photos and also 1968-1970 timeframe estimate. JMO, ICBW. Cool looking pearl trim rings at the joint.

Martin
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I have never seen a Rich cue with a joint or a buttcap like that. nor with the helicoil type of shaft inserts. It does not seem likely to be a rich in my opinion.
But I am sure it is more likely a 1966-70 vintage for sure.

Richard Helmstetter shared working space with Gorden Hart for a while in the shop in the Viking pool hall. some of there cues looked kind of similar. But I have never seen a shaft insert like that done by Gorden.

Jayman.
 
Another person suggested the work looked like Ricco Cervantes, especially the metal on the joints when he was with National Cue CO.
Thanks every one for all your info, keep it coming.

John
 
jkmarshall_cues said:
Another person suggested the work looked like Ricco Cervantes, especially the metal on the joints when he was with National Cue CO.
Thanks every one for all your info, keep it coming.

John
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John that is a very good point, it certainly could be a National cue. It also meets the time frame when the Blank was made. In addition, to Ricco Cervantes being part of National, Bob Meucci, Dick Helemstetter, and possible Paul Heubler were also all working there during the same time frame.

The cue on ebay certainly is from the same factory or person this cue came from. It is kinda interesting that two of these would show up at the same time. In addition the guy on eBay says he has another one that has been completely restored.

Craig
 
John that is a very good point, it certainly could be a National cue. It also meets the time frame when the Blank was made. In addition, to Ricco Cervantes being part of National, Bob Meucci, Dick Helemstetter, and possible Paul Heubler were also all working there during the same time frame.


Well, we know for sure it wasn't Meucci, He still can't build a cue that good! LoL.

Jayman.
 
i had an Adams with the same pearl same buttcap and same weightbolt. Mine was also missing the bumper. I've seen adams with that pin. Def a wico blank. Vikings with vynl veneers were only 3 pointers. Palmer didn't make cues in 1962. Maybe a paradise. But I'm leaning twards adams family. Not a doc fry either
 
Hay John?

Why don't you show the cues you have built in the Gallery. They have a very nice fit and finish!
Nick :)
 
dave sutton said:
i had an Adams with the same pearl same buttcap and same weightbolt. Mine was also missing the bumper. I've seen adams with that pin. Def a wico blank. Vikings with vynl veneers were only 3 pointers. Palmer didn't make cues in 1962. Maybe a paradise. But I'm leaning twards adams family. Not a doc fry either
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Dave, I can tell for certain it is not a Paradise, Frank did some things in the joint area that make me certain of that fact. In addition, franks Catalog that everyone sees pictures of was put out around 1965 - 66, and when the Blank in this cue was made (Approximately 1968-1969) Frank was no longer with us.

The early Helmstetter cues that were made before Dick started working with Adam cues and National had a pointed tip just like the First Catalog and Second Catalog cues made by Adam.

For some reason though, the cues made by National did not the pointed tip, and the pins they were used both Stainless Steel and Brass. While Helemstter was brought in to set up the operation he may have not been ordering components for the cues.
 
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i had several of these cues back in the 70's. pretty sure they were marketed by gandy as national cues. aluminum inserts in the shafts were pretty standard and i think i had both pointed pins and regular pins.
 
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