Anyone heard of the old "National" cue?
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First cue I ever owned...
was a National...I won it in a pool game in the early 60's...lol I was very very young...
It had a nice green and pearl butt...which broke when I tap tapped a good shot...not a great cue...
Mike
was a National...I won it in a pool game in the early 60's...lol I was very very young...
It had a nice green and pearl butt...which broke when I tap tapped a good shot...not a great cue...
Mike
I have an old cue with a white Delrin butt cap and no wrap, that has a red N inside a red circle. I'm guessing that it is a National.
Doug
Doug
BPG24 said:LOL
Your avatar really messed with me earlier.
I was thinking that a bug got in my house
That IS a bug! I just smashed mine on my computer screen. I hope.
fan-tum said:
National Pool Table Company was out of Cincinnati, Ohio. They made some pretty solid tables in the 40's, 50's, 60's and 70's. They also put out a line of inexpensive two piece cues and made house cues as well. I believe they manufactured National Tournament Chalk (NTC) as well. I believe they sold out most of their product line to Tweeten Fiber Co. in the 70's or early 80's. I think AMF took over their table making facility.
BPG24 said:LOL
Your avatar really messed with me earlier.
I was thinking that a bug got in my house
he got me too with that gaff bug, it wasnt until I scrolled down the screen to a different post that I realized I tricked. I hit it 3 or 4 times too, and no i'm not on any meds.
I have a nice older "unkown" cue......that is more than likely an old National and another plain National cue.
They are around!
Russ...
They are around!
Russ...
fan-tum said:
National cues was a very special company. This company had more future cue makers and innovator's than any of the other early companies producing basic playing cues in the 1960's and 1970's. To name a few of the cue makers who worked for National in the 1960's were Richard Helmstetter, Bob Muecci, and Paul Huebler. In many of the National cue designs to can see the later trade makers of these cue makers.
In National cues you can find the Nylon inserts that Huebler would later make his trade mark. You can find the 5/16-18 non-pointed pin used on later Hueblers and Meucci cues, and you can find designs and construction that you would later see in Adam / Helmstetters, Meucci, and Huebler cue that are combined in a single model of cue. I have seen National cues with a Nylon insert and a 1 1/8 inch ferrule like Muecci cues.
Many older cues, get identified as a Rich, Adam, or other brands because of the convergence of designs in these cues. I do not know exactly when the company stopped production, however, I suspect it was in the Mid-1970's.
Hope this helps
manwon said:
Thanks Craig for filling in the blanks. I don't know if the table making company (in Cincy, same time frame) was associated with the cue making business. I always thought they were related. Do you know?
Is it possible that National is still making tables?
Last edited:
Jerry Forsyth
Well-known member
Me too
Ironman, we have a lot in common. I also have $100 that I have used for many years. Aint it great being cheap?
ironman said:
Ironman, we have a lot in common. I also have $100 that I have used for many years. Aint it great being cheap?
Jerry Forsyth said:
I loved that Joss and always felt I got a great deal on it. It was the stiffest hittin cue I ever owned. Unfortunately I was a young player who couldn't beat Mcgoo and hocked it
one time too many.
I wasn't being cheap, it was probably all I had.
You iz right, bro
The shop was in Chicago for a long time. Craig Peterson of Peterson Cues, the mentor of Joe Gold, and Dick Helmstetter both worked at National. Many of the helpers of Herman Rambow wound up working at National. I never did like their chalk. Master Chalk could give it the hit and the pick.
the Beard
Check out my new, souped up website and blog. www.bankingwiththebeard.com. I have learned how to do my own web programming, and my site is now at least 40 pages long. One big section on The Last Days of Bugs Rucker, another, Secrets of a Hard Core Pool Hustler, with more to come. Videos, slide shows, pics, Books, DVDs,memorabilia, etc. Log on and spend some moola.
manwon said:
The shop was in Chicago for a long time. Craig Peterson of Peterson Cues, the mentor of Joe Gold, and Dick Helmstetter both worked at National. Many of the helpers of Herman Rambow wound up working at National. I never did like their chalk. Master Chalk could give it the hit and the pick.
the Beard
Check out my new, souped up website and blog. www.bankingwiththebeard.com. I have learned how to do my own web programming, and my site is now at least 40 pages long. One big section on The Last Days of Bugs Rucker, another, Secrets of a Hard Core Pool Hustler, with more to come. Videos, slide shows, pics, Books, DVDs,memorabilia, etc. Log on and spend some moola.
manwon said:
And the National Pool Table company was in Cincinnati!!
national
Some time back in the mid 70s I wanted to start playing some pool. I went into the local hardware store that sold cues looked at the selection and there it was my dream cue. It was a 19oz. national had the red N on butt
plate plain jane ss steel joint 5/16 x18 joint pin cherry stained butt looked nice. I had to think about spending that much money 59.95 broke down and took it home. Been hooked ever sense. I did not know a thing about tips, weight, balance point, stiff , whippy or the feel of the hit but I did know I liked this game called pool. That cue worked just fine to me.
Picked up the game quick and played good pool with my 59.95 national cue. As I said did not know all the ins and outs of pool cues. To tell the truth I think I had more fun playing then than I do now. Where did those days go? Take care, john
Some time back in the mid 70s I wanted to start playing some pool. I went into the local hardware store that sold cues looked at the selection and there it was my dream cue. It was a 19oz. national had the red N on butt
plate plain jane ss steel joint 5/16 x18 joint pin cherry stained butt looked nice. I had to think about spending that much money 59.95 broke down and took it home. Been hooked ever sense. I did not know a thing about tips, weight, balance point, stiff , whippy or the feel of the hit but I did know I liked this game called pool. That cue worked just fine to me.
Picked up the game quick and played good pool with my 59.95 national cue. As I said did not know all the ins and outs of pool cues. To tell the truth I think I had more fun playing then than I do now. Where did those days go? Take care, john