Balabushka on ebay

wyld78 said:
What do the experts here think,,,,,,,,,is this auction and stick legit? Seen a few of these in my day,,,,,,,and must saY that these inlays look a lot like a Palmer or Pardise. Curious to here from you guys. Wyld78

http://cgi.ebay.com/BALABUSHKA-Orig...ryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
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Those pearl inlays were commonly available to all the cue makers from the guitar parts supply house. However, I'm looking and looking at this cue. It looks like a Palmer to me too, but I'm not 100% on it and it's unlike any I've seen. Maybe the inlays were added to the cue. The buttcap is different.

I don't think this cue, the dates, and the story add up.

Chris
 
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It aint no Balabushkie

The joint is wrong. The blank is not right. The collars were never used by george to my knownedge. The forearm looks like a Paradise. There is a possability it is a Spain. The cue is not what I rember Balabushkas looking like anywhere I look at it.
George had so many people doing forearms for him anything is possable. I don't think he ever made one of his own.
The joint itself really doesn't even look stainless.
Pictures do lie.
Nick ;)
 
TATE said:
Those pearl inlays were commonly available to all the cue makers from the guitar parts supply house. However, I'm looking and looking at this cue. It looks like a Palmer to me too, but I'm not 100% on it and it's unlike any I've seen. Maybe the inlays were added to the cue. The buttcap is different.

I don't think this cue, the dates, and the story add up.

Chris
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Wrong.. Wrong... Too much wrong...
Lets all remember this cue is said to be made in 1959..
That would mean it should be a Titlist blank..
Too early for Burton..
If it was a Burton blank, George would have put the black in between the points under the wrap, which would have made the ebony centers about 2-3" long, which is too short..
Almost looks like 5 veneers in the picturs, but, could be the pictures..
George did mostly dots in his early cues, such as the backend..And the butt cap is wrong..
The joint looks to be aluminum, but, could be the pictures..
I like the part where he says" Joe states that he received the pool cue from George Balabushka in 1959, before he put his signature and # on it, this is one of the first he produced".
Best,
Ken K.
Highendcues
 
i would bet its a palmer or paradise custom. look at the round star inlays typical of palmer

the buttcap is delrin and the bumper is brown but the buttsleeve is too long...

also another tip off is the black and gold double wrap in the old pic with the guy jacked up. typical of palmer and paradise
 
Hey- chris, i thought i was looking at the palmer i sold you:D

Steven



TATE said:
Those pearl inlays were commonly available to all the cue makers from the guitar parts supply house. However, I'm looking and looking at this cue. It looks like a Palmer to me too, but I'm not 100% on it and it's unlike any I've seen. Maybe the inlays were added to the cue. The buttcap is different.

I don't think this cue, the dates, and the story add up.

Chris
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For $20 bucks I will authenicate it for the seller.

If he would only pay me $20, I will sign the forearm "George Balabushka" and that will prove all of you WRONG!
 
I am by no means a Bushka expert on authentication, but several things look fishy to me. Almost looks like a cue that somebody tried to make into a "Bushka". The prong looks to me like early Spain, so that would put it at what....mid '60s at the earliest? I've seen quite a lot of Bushkas, though, and none have ever had the inlays running that far into the veneers. Have seen some where they ran right up to the edge of the ebony point, but never that far outside it. Have seen some Paradise cues done like that, though. Doesn't look like Frank's work in the rear-end or shaft collars though. Oh, well....it's an interesting cue to say the least !! :)
 
It's still pretty old, What about an old Mali? They had some inlays that looked like that. Of course any one could have put them in at a later date. The stainless joint is a little confusing.

Andy
 
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The expert has spoken

His name is Ken. Believe that!
I grew up around Balabushkas and to quote one of my rebel budies here in Pensacola, "That aint no Balabushkie!"
Nick :)
 
The joint is Nickel Silver,and the MOP inlays were added to the cue. You can just tell,and there are 5 veneers.
 
"Just ask Mosconi" was his last sentance.......ok I'll go ask willie before I make my bid.

i will bet one of my Bushkas that the joint is tin foil.
 
Fatboy said:
"Just ask Mosconi" was his last sentance.......ok I'll go ask willie before I make my bid.
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you'll need a good shovel and have to be very patient with him.........:D
 
Out of curiosity, and a bit of bordom...has there every been a recorded transaction on Ebay of an authentic Balabushka?
 
Gregg said:
Out of curiosity, and a bit of bordom...has there every been a recorded transaction on Ebay of an authentic Balabushka?
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Yes, once in a while they pop up. It's fun when a previously undiscovered Balabushka shows up.

There was one a few months ago where a gentleman in Washington sold one for his uncle's estate. He had sold me a few Palmer's -then he sent me a pic of this Balabushka - I almost fell off my chair. It was a rare Szamboti blank (it had a birdseye maple forearm). He kind of made me his advisor and I helped him get it authenticated and advertise it on E-Bay because he didn't know anything about cues. It was a nice cue. I thought he would get $12k - it went for over $16K.

here was the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=220130170414

Chris
 
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I like how his bid starts at $25,000. Then I have to pay another $315 for shipping. Kind of struck me funny. Also for some reason I think this person truley believes what he is saying about this cue.
 
TATE said:
Yes, once in a while they pop up. It's fun when a previously undiscovered Balabushka shows up.

There was one a few months ago where a gentleman in Washington sold one for his uncle's estate. He had sold me a few Palmer's -then he sent me a pic of this Balabushka - I almost fell off my chair. It was a rare Szamboti blank (it had a birdseye maple forearm). He kind of made me his advisor and I helped him get it authenticated and advertise it on E-Bay because he didn't know anything about cues. It was a nice cue. I thought he would get $12k - it went for over $16K.

here was the auction:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=ADME:L:LCA:US:11&item=220130170414

Chris
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when i saw this auction and after verifying it was legit, i was gonna pull the trigger on it at the last second with a proxy of 18K but couldn't close the deal on the cue i had for sale that would have put me at that proxy. i'm very partial to the bushka's made after 1970 and this is one of the most classic looks for a bushka imo and i really think that it was undersold. i wish i'd put the proxy in anyway cause i prolly' could have come up with what i needed if i had to. :(
 
WesleyW said:
Just a waste of money.
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yea for some.... and i can survive eating just plain potato's but i'd rather have a nice porterhouse, a garden salad, and a cold Bodingtons as well because it just taste better and won't break the bank. cues like this aren't for everyone just those who want them and have the means to get them just like any other piece of artwork or any luxury item for that matter. when i was a kid i questioned my brother about all the muscle cars he had and why he spent all his money on them and i'll never forget his response..."maybe someday you'll own Generals". it came from the Generals tire commercial. he'd say it all the time whenever i questioned his "hobby" and i'd always wondered what it meant. it wasn't till later when he explained that it meant if you work for what you want you can get it! he was right. so yes, cues like this maybe a waste of money for some but not those who want them and can find a way to afford them.
 
I just received this e-mail:


Chris;

I've read alot of good comments on azbilliards.com reference the pool cue I have for sale on ebay. Not sure I agree with them all, but want to give everybody a fair shake. I've even signed up so as to answer questions as fairly for everyone; alot of experts out there and everyone seems to have their own expertise in areas. By no means is this sale a scam or intended to be. I am a highly decorated Army Major with three tours of combat and aviation commands behind me. My good friend Joe "Jackie Gleason" Martino is a great person and as I recently rumaged through all his pool hall trophies and personalized pictures from all the greats it just added more value to the listing. I am an avid player as well and own a nice new brunswick, but am not an expert in the field. Joe's story is valid; and when I met with him this weekend and showed him all the negative publicity, it really put him down. He tells me that George use to come into his shop and fix the cue tips for folks and personnally made this for him. What a great history, in fact I told him that i would like to do a right up on him as well for all the pool enthusiasts to read personnally; great history and a true same to see a man get this old and have to part with a treasured piece. I'm convinced that it is an original and one of his first pieces. I have asked him to take it down, we will go to get it authenticated, because I think this to be a true original and with only 1200 made; would be a shame to see it sell to someone for this amount who really didn't appreciate it. It should be in a museum for all to treasure. I've got one email from a gentleman and even offered to pay his hotel here in vegas for him if he wanted to come look at it. If you have a contact with Pete Tascarella or Bill Schick, i'd drive it out to them to look at as well; or let them know as this is no scam. Pass the word, and if ya want I've signed up under aceduece (my call sign in combat aviation) and would be happy to answer questions to the best of my ability. I will probably pul
l it down as some auction houses have contacted me from Texas as well.
Appreciate your feedback and email me anytime. Would prefere you don't release my email address to all the flakes out there as well.
thanks and god bless..

Jon
aceduece


Jon,

You should call Pete Tascarella as soon as possible and send him the cue for authentication. Please keep us up to date during the authentication process. This should prove to be interesting, because the cue is a mystery.

Whatever it is, Pete should be able to shed some light on it.

Chris
 
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