A Walk Down Memory Lane

[Bavafongoul]

This cue is older than the majority of the Forum members. I picked it out at the Palmer Factory in N.J.

Fancy smancy…..I could have had any cue I picked since it was a bday present. Cocobolo wood was
barely being used back then and when I spotted this cue in the display case, I just had to have it. My
next cue acquisition was the ‘85 Schon and in the mid 2000’s, I started buying the other cues in my
signature. My Palmer cue has 2 different shafts: for billiards (12.25 mm) & pool (13 mm). I have a brown
speck Cortland wrap I’m tempted to install since it is my favorite wrap and I think would look better.

 

[TheBasics]

Bavaf'. Howdy;

I have a Cocobolo cue and it has a white w/Black spec. wrap on it.
Looks really nice. White w/ Brown should look truly nice as well.

hank

 

[mikemosconi]

Very cool to see! I was old when you bought the cue

 

[hang-the-9]

This cue is older than the majority of the Forum members. I picked it out at the Palmer Factory in N.J.

Fancy smancy…..I could have had any cue I picked since it was a bday present. Cocobolo wood was
barely being used back then and when I spotted this cue in the display case, I just had to have it. My
next cue acquisition was the ‘85 Schon and in the mid 2000’s, I started buying the other cues in my
signature. My Palmer cue has 2 different shafts: for billiards (12.25 mm) & pool (13 mm). I have a brown
speck Cortland wrap I’m tempted to install since it is my favorite wrap and I think would look better.

I think this wrap is similar in colors as the one you have, it's on my Ned Morris which is Cocobolo . It had a black wrap that developed an issue and Mike Webb put on the new one. I think it looks much better than the black one did. The original look is in the next picture. Aside from not having the cue be original, I think you will like the new wrap look.

 

[71dewajack]

This cue is older than the majority of the Forum members. I picked it out at the Palmer Factory in N.J.

Fancy smancy…..I could have had any cue I picked since it was a bday present. Cocobolo wood was
barely being used back then and when I spotted this cue in the display case, I just had to have it. My
next cue acquisition was the ‘85 Schon and in the mid 2000’s, I started buying the other cues in my
signature. My Palmer cue has 2 different shafts: for billiards (12.25 mm) & pool (13 mm). I have a brown
speck Cortland wrap I’m tempted to install since it is my favorite wrap and I think would look better.

I would have no problems buying something from you, you know how to take care of things. Nice setup.

 

[fjk]

This cue is older than the majority of the Forum members. I picked it out at the Palmer Factory in N.J.

Fancy smancy…..I could have had any cue I picked since it was a bday present. Cocobolo wood was
barely being used back then and when I spotted this cue in the display case, I just had to have it. My
next cue acquisition was the ‘85 Schon and in the mid 2000’s, I started buying the other cues in my
signature. My Palmer cue has 2 different shafts: for billiards (12.25 mm) & pool (13 mm). I have a brown
speck Cortland wrap I’m tempted to install since it is my favorite wrap and I think would look better.

NOOOOOOOO...sell me that Cortland instead. I need it.

 

[measureman]

I wonder if they knew how toxic Cocobolo dust was to work with back then?
Probably not, asbestos danger was unknown.
Some cue makers refuse to work with woods like this.

Nice piece of history.

 

[measureman]

Very cool to see! I was old when you bought the cue

He bought directly from Palmer in N.J.
How old are you?

 

[measureman]

My Cocobolo Lucasi has Brown/white linen on it.
Looks great it, really makes the Cocobolo pop.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I wonder if they knew how toxic Cocobolo dust was to work with back then?
Probably not, asbestos danger was unknown.
Some cue makers refuse to work with woods like this.

Nice piece of history.

Desert Iornwood, PurpleHeart are also toxic. Back in the day of wooden ships, and Iorn men, people did not know long term effect of exposure to toxic wood dust.

Remember our wood shop at Jordan Jr. High, do not believe, or recall we had much in the way of dust control devices. We would open small bay door, and front door of shop to keep dust down.

Joiners, and Planner had by pass device to move chips and dust to one side of machine, and away from operator.

 

[Bavafongoul]

He bought directly from Palmer in N.J.
How old are you?

I don’t know Mike’s age but I’m 75……My friends and I went to Ames Billiard Academy
to watch the film production crew on the Hustler set. This cue is filled with sentiment.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I don’t know Mike’s age but I’m 75……My friends and I went to Ames Billiard Academy
to watch the film production crew on the Hustler set. This cue is filled with sentiment.

That is too cool being able to watch the production of a great film.

Plus you were able to see several great talented actors.

 

[Bavafongoul]

That is too cool being able to watch the production of a great film.

Plus you were able to see several great talented actors.

I was 15 at the time and to go to a pool room in NYC required being at least 16 or with an adult (over 18).
The Hustler was released in the Fall of ‘61 and pool exploded in NYC and around the nation. The following
year I turned 16 and I could ride my bike to the pool halls, like George Balabuska & Frank McGown’s parlor
in Bay Ridge on 50th Street & 5th Ave. Ames was in NYC, a different Burrough, so it involved a subway trip

 

[TheBasics]

Bavafon, Howdy;

Only a few years between us. I had my first introduction at the upstairs
pool tables in the Bowling Alley on Nassau St. Princeton, NJ in late June
of 1961. I was 12.

hank

 

[Bavafongoul]

Bavafon, Howdy;

Only a few years between us. I had my first introduction at the upstairs
pool tables in the Bowling Alley on Nassau St. Princeton, NJ in late June
of 1961. I was 12.

hank

Growing up in the 60’s and made pool in the 70’s and 80’s such a fabulous pastime,
especially after The Color of Money was released. It was just glorious and pool rooms
were steadily busy and lots of local tournaments. There was always action taking place.

 

[philly]

Started hitting the pool rooms in Philly back in 1965, I was 14 and taking public buses to the various
rooms around the city.
We didn't have the likes of a Balabushka hitting the poolrooms.
Doc Frye, a local pharmacist, amateur woodworker, and pool aficionado would hit the rooms with
the custom cues he made.
A Doc Frye was about $120 with two shafts.
That was a lot of money back then especially for a 14 year old.
Some guys would order his sticks with one shaft with a "bell tip" on it where the ferrel was fluted outward where the tip was.
Bought a Willie Hope 21 oz. stick that came with a leather Brunswick snap top hustler case for $50 in 1967
and sold it when I went to college in 1970 for $50.