1x2 Hard Case ID?
- Thread starter Shooter08
- Start date
Better pictures of the top where the leather overlaps and the bottom would make identification easier.
Fellini had a period where the labels were glued in rather than sewn in. That was in the 90s through.
Schon cases are ususally the ones which have no label at all. The tell on all these is often how the leather is cut at the top. Each maker has a different enough pattern to be able to identify it when using comparison photos.
Fellini had a period where the labels were glued in rather than sewn in. That was in the 90s through.
Schon cases are ususally the ones which have no label at all. The tell on all these is often how the leather is cut at the top. Each maker has a different enough pattern to be able to identify it when using comparison photos.
I know some history of that style of case, which I first saw back in the early to late 70s in Fort Worth TX. That style of 1x2 leather or alligator case was very popular among attorneys, used car lot and junkyard owners, union auto workers, and anyone else with a bit of money, lots of free time, and just enough gamble and skill to style themselves as pool players. It was a symbol of high status to own that case, which was advertised in tournament flyers and such at about $100 and up depending on the leather desired. I knew them as 'Fellini' brand, though I never owned one myself. The cases sounded an airy 'pooosh', pulling a partial vacuum upon opening, and an distinctive metallic 'click' when the top was replaced. After a money match, you could almost tell by sound of the latch closing if the owner had just won or lost - a muted 'clik-clik' for a winner, and a strident 'Klickkk" for a loser.
The guys at the Golden Nugget pool hall who owned those Fellini-like cases mostly all had a fairly expensive cues (for that era) to protect, maybe a Tad or even a Richard Black; at mid-decade or later a few Meucci and Schon and Joss cues appeared. The Fellini-case crowd all gambled with each other, passing a few hundred around amongst themselves every week: up this week, down the next, always trying (with some success) to stay away from the kind of opponent who would take the winnings out of their little circle. I remember those cases so well because several guys who owned them were the type to get red-faced mad at everyone in sight whenever they lost a session - it was always some railbird's fault, bad rolls, whatever.
There was a GM auto worker with a Fellini case who was the exception to that crowd. He was always on an even keel with a ready smile, friendly to everyone, but no one's fool ever, a gentleman of pool. He carried his cue in a genuine alligator Fellini case, black as night, and in it he carried the first and only original Balabushka I've ever seen. He was particularly fond of playing $20 or $200 one-pocket, at which he was the room's acknowledged master. I never saw him lose a match, though there were some close ones, and some that had to be called a draw.
Later there was some competition to the original 1x2 case, the one I always called a Fellini. It looked very similar, but was less expensive. I think it was manufactured around Austin somewhere, but others would know more about that than me.
Those were the days when cue and case sellers would make up a bunch of copies of a 4x6 photo of their wares, then have people hand them out at pool rooms and tournaments to generate interest and sales. I wish I had kept all those cue manufacturers 4x6 photos I handled, or even one; it would look nice framed in my pool table room. I even more I wish I had bought a beautiful Richard Black cue back when it cost less than a week's wages. I did once own a used $100 Tad, his basic model with two shafts, ivory ferrules, steel joint, birds eye maple forearm, white/green speck Irish linen wrap. It was a handsome cue with a solid hit, but I never really liked its balance, the butt was too thick, and the second shaft was too short for me, so I sold it back to the guy I bought it from a couple of years later for that same $100. I've never really regretted selling that Tad, which might come as a surprise to some.
Those Fellini cases were notorious for the glue coming loose, allowing those tight tucks at top and bottom to come loose. If yours is in great shape it might be worth more as a keeper than as something to sell, if you can stand an elegant case whose only fault is its lack of room for extras.
The guys at the Golden Nugget pool hall who owned those Fellini-like cases mostly all had a fairly expensive cues (for that era) to protect, maybe a Tad or even a Richard Black; at mid-decade or later a few Meucci and Schon and Joss cues appeared. The Fellini-case crowd all gambled with each other, passing a few hundred around amongst themselves every week: up this week, down the next, always trying (with some success) to stay away from the kind of opponent who would take the winnings out of their little circle. I remember those cases so well because several guys who owned them were the type to get red-faced mad at everyone in sight whenever they lost a session - it was always some railbird's fault, bad rolls, whatever.
There was a GM auto worker with a Fellini case who was the exception to that crowd. He was always on an even keel with a ready smile, friendly to everyone, but no one's fool ever, a gentleman of pool. He carried his cue in a genuine alligator Fellini case, black as night, and in it he carried the first and only original Balabushka I've ever seen. He was particularly fond of playing $20 or $200 one-pocket, at which he was the room's acknowledged master. I never saw him lose a match, though there were some close ones, and some that had to be called a draw.
Later there was some competition to the original 1x2 case, the one I always called a Fellini. It looked very similar, but was less expensive. I think it was manufactured around Austin somewhere, but others would know more about that than me.
Those were the days when cue and case sellers would make up a bunch of copies of a 4x6 photo of their wares, then have people hand them out at pool rooms and tournaments to generate interest and sales. I wish I had kept all those cue manufacturers 4x6 photos I handled, or even one; it would look nice framed in my pool table room. I even more I wish I had bought a beautiful Richard Black cue back when it cost less than a week's wages. I did once own a used $100 Tad, his basic model with two shafts, ivory ferrules, steel joint, birds eye maple forearm, white/green speck Irish linen wrap. It was a handsome cue with a solid hit, but I never really liked its balance, the butt was too thick, and the second shaft was too short for me, so I sold it back to the guy I bought it from a couple of years later for that same $100. I've never really regretted selling that Tad, which might come as a surprise to some.
Those Fellini cases were notorious for the glue coming loose, allowing those tight tucks at top and bottom to come loose. If yours is in great shape it might be worth more as a keeper than as something to sell, if you can stand an elegant case whose only fault is its lack of room for extras.
An absolutely amazing first post. I solved the problem of the ends coming loose on my version of this style of case. Ours are wedged in and practically impossible to dislodge.
I think that's one reason why few of them have survived. I can only imagine that people threw them away rather than repaired them.
I always tell people if they have a Fellini in good or decent condition then preserve it. People do ask me to recover them and I decline.
Great post and welcome to the forums!!
:winknudge: ok.......
175 to 300...collector of schon cases might need that color pattern combo..best to price and just see....glws
Thanks for the kind words, I have been lurking for quite awhile and have a very very slight acquaintance with some AZB regulars.
I would rely on JBs photos and records more than my memory from 40-some years ago. The alligator finish case in JBs post #16 looks much like what I remember seeing back in those days.
The ones I remember from early 70s had end seams that were folded over with some overlap, sort of a triangular manner, and this became the weak part that might eventually come loose. Several of the photos from JB show end cap seams nicely butted up exactly against each other, instead of folded over each other.
If someone collects old billiard magazines, especially regional ones, or tournament posters with advertising space, I think we might see advertisements for a Fellini or similar case during the time frame of 1971-76. I have a pretty good recollection that the Schon 1x2 cases did not arrive in Fort Worth until the latter part of the 70s, but of course I could be dis-remembering.
I would rely on JBs photos and records more than my memory from 40-some years ago. The alligator finish case in JBs post #16 looks much like what I remember seeing back in those days.
The ones I remember from early 70s had end seams that were folded over with some overlap, sort of a triangular manner, and this became the weak part that might eventually come loose. Several of the photos from JB show end cap seams nicely butted up exactly against each other, instead of folded over each other.
If someone collects old billiard magazines, especially regional ones, or tournament posters with advertising space, I think we might see advertisements for a Fellini or similar case during the time frame of 1971-76. I have a pretty good recollection that the Schon 1x2 cases did not arrive in Fort Worth until the latter part of the 70s, but of course I could be dis-remembering.
that case is what they called sea turtle......
I had a scan of a Fellini brochure but my computer died last week, motherboard, for the second time. You might find one doing a Google search. I probably have a mag with an ad but I'd have to dig out and through a bunch of boxes
I had a scan of a Fellini brochure but my computer died last week, motherboard, for the second time. You might find one doing a Google search. I probably have a mag with an ad but I'd have to dig out and through a bunch of boxes
The brochures won't be much help identifying this case.
Here are all the images I have http://www.jbcases.com/gallery/index.php?g2_itemId=13821
There have been only 6 companies that have done the Fellini style of case after Fellini. What I mean there are cases using the same type of tubing and about the same size with the upholstered endcaps.
Fellini
Ann Gore/Manx
Kelli (Bill McDaniels)
Sam Engles
Schon
GTF (us)
Of those Ann Gore worked for Fellini so her cases were advertised as being the same.
Kelli cases were identified by the word Kelli on the latch. Engles has a sewn in label and the pattern on the end cap tabs is crude and inconsistent.
Schon is the only one that had no label and no markings. The only way to tell if it's a Schon case appears to be the precision of the pattern as it was reported that they were made using precision CNC cut patterns. I guess I should call Bob Runde and simply ask him.
The GTF Replica is the modern successor to the Fellini style case. Aside from the label ours are easily identified by the small oval we use in the center of the caps.
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