Agree with everything said above, especially with the overlap in materials with dates.
Probably the reason the mid 70s or so cues are so hard to identify for exact year is that there was a difference in cut-off points with the standard wraps and the standard bumpers. They generally stopped using Cortland wrap somewhere around 1973 to 1974, and they stopped using the brown KU bumpers in 1976, creating a bit of difficulty in identification. This was no doubt due to ease of availability, though a few spools of Cortland lingered for those who wanted it, and knew to ask.
Also agree with Travis, there's not a quality difference based on an earlier vintage, in fact, later examples were probably more refined. But Joss is a strange example, isn't it. Unlike some other cuemakers, it seems that the earlier the better. I chalk it up to a couple reasons. One, there's a chance both Janes and Stroud built the cue, for that matter, Tim Scruggs as well. Also, the iconic earlier Joss cues had plenty of the flat-face ivory joint cues with the rounded 3/8 pin. The only other cuemaker that I was aware of doing that same thing at that time was Bert Schrager. Others doing ivory joints, such as Gus S, were primarily doing piloted joints. So that's another strong identifying feature of the earlier Joss cues.
There you have it. Though later, more refined examples of some cuemakers are more desirable, it seems that with Joss, the earlier, the better, at least for collectors. Sort of like the Mustang, no?
All the best,
WW
Probably the reason the mid 70s or so cues are so hard to identify for exact year is that there was a difference in cut-off points with the standard wraps and the standard bumpers. They generally stopped using Cortland wrap somewhere around 1973 to 1974, and they stopped using the brown KU bumpers in 1976, creating a bit of difficulty in identification. This was no doubt due to ease of availability, though a few spools of Cortland lingered for those who wanted it, and knew to ask.
Also agree with Travis, there's not a quality difference based on an earlier vintage, in fact, later examples were probably more refined. But Joss is a strange example, isn't it. Unlike some other cuemakers, it seems that the earlier the better. I chalk it up to a couple reasons. One, there's a chance both Janes and Stroud built the cue, for that matter, Tim Scruggs as well. Also, the iconic earlier Joss cues had plenty of the flat-face ivory joint cues with the rounded 3/8 pin. The only other cuemaker that I was aware of doing that same thing at that time was Bert Schrager. Others doing ivory joints, such as Gus S, were primarily doing piloted joints. So that's another strong identifying feature of the earlier Joss cues.
There you have it. Though later, more refined examples of some cuemakers are more desirable, it seems that with Joss, the earlier, the better, at least for collectors. Sort of like the Mustang, no?
All the best,
WW
