Balabushka's amazing leatherwrap work

FSutton

FSutton

4 Rails!
Silver Member
Just take a look at this cue on Cornerstone Billiards Website...I mean how the heck did Balabushka do this type of leather wrap? I mean it almost look like Patent Leather or something glossy or maybe he put parade gloss on it and polished it in the lathe? I see a lot of leather wraps these days but I haven't seen a sole doing anything that looks like this? Apparently his leather wraps were the best and smooth as glass but has anyone ever studied how he did it because I'm having no luck turning up information..and frankly I'd like this kind of wrap on my cue. How did he do it and what kind of leather and tools was he using?

http://www.cornerstonecues.com/cue387.htm
 
FSutton said:
Just take a look at this cue on Cornerstone Billiards Website...I mean how the heck did Balabushka do this type of leather wrap? I mean it almost look like Patent Leather or something glossy or maybe he put parade gloss on it and polished it in the lathe? I see a lot of leather wraps these days but I haven't seen a sole doing anything that looks like this? Apparently his leather wraps were the best and smooth as glass but has anyone ever studied how he did it because I'm having no luck turning up information..and frankly I'd like this kind of wrap on my cue. How did he do it and what kind of leather and tools was he using?

http://www.cornerstonecues.com/cue387.htm
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My guess, it was the leather he started with. There are a gazillion
different textures and finishes on leather.

Not that one couldn't put more shine on leather.
 
I'm sure it's in the leather used then the technique. I bet that leather is thick as hell. I did an old Palmer once and the Leather was like 60 thou. But it was smooth like that.

I've sanded and redied leather and used shaft sealer an got it smooth and shinny but not like that. I don't know how long it stayed that shinny after play.
 
don't forget that he was a big user of lady clarol hair dye for his stains and colors.

bill
 
I have a tendency to doubt that the leather has remained that way without or the cue for that fact, some type of general cleaning and re-buffing of the leather. I've seen many with the same type of leather wrap but not that brilliance. Only my opinion, either way a great specimen. One of the few advantages of living in the area and seeing many of his cues in pool hall displays for sale.
Even still, ever so often a player out of nowhere appears with an original Balabushka to my amazement. Last incidence was 3 weeks ago. Plain four pointer with veneers no inlays still being played with and looking like it never has seen a damped cloth. :)

Mario
 
FSutton said:
Just take a look at this cue on Cornerstone Billiards Website...I mean how the heck did Balabushka do this type of leather wrap? I mean it almost look like Patent Leather or something glossy or maybe he put parade gloss on it and polished it in the lathe? I see a lot of leather wraps these days but I haven't seen a sole doing anything that looks like this? Apparently his leather wraps were the best and smooth as glass but has anyone ever studied how he did it because I'm having no luck turning up information..and frankly I'd like this kind of wrap on my cue. How did he do it and what kind of leather and tools was he using?

http://www.cornerstonecues.com/cue387.htm
Click to expand...

Does it say anywhere what the cue sold for?
 
The two closest cuemakers that can do that leather is Tascarella and Rubino. At least from all that I have seen. My Gus has a piece of Georges leather on that Gus had when he built the cue in 76. It also is flawless.

JV
 
classiccues said:
The two closest cuemakers that can do that leather is Tascarella and Rubino. At least from all that I have seen. My Gus has a piece of Georges leather on that Gus had when he built the cue in 76. It also is flawless.

JV
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It also has no stain on it anymore. Right. If its the same cue I remember seeing.
 
dave sutton said:
It also has no stain on it anymore. Right. If its the same cue I remember seeing.
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This is true. When a cue is played with every day, and I mean every day since it was made, that happens. We had a Bushka that had the same wear pattern.

The seam can now be seen, but its smooth as glass. Barry even tried to redye it and the dye didn't take. Went back to original in 6 months.

JV
 

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dave sutton said:
I'm sure it's in the leather used then the technique. I bet that leather is thick as hell. I did an old Palmer once and the Leather was like 60 thou. But it was smooth like that.

I've sanded and redied leather and used shaft sealer an got it smooth and shinny but not like that. I don't know how long it stayed that shinny after play.
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Regarding the leather thickness, I have an old Rambow with the wrap missing. I bet it would take a piece around to 3/32 to re-wrap it. Now that I am thinking about, Leather was almost the norm at one time when I was a kid. Many guys played with the old Hoppe cues and Master stroke cues that came with leather. Now it is very rare to see a leather wrap. I should add, the leather on the Hoppe cues was terrible. They didn't even try to do a good job.
 
shiny

I am in the minority here I guess as I do not like the shiny leather. Also I think the age of the bushka cues may have something to do with the finish, no ?I like the matte finished leathers, I feel the shiny is too slippery and the matte has some grip to it. I am kaving Kilby build me a cue now with a Kangaroo matte leather wrap, ill post pics when i get it.
 
the shoe shop leathers that you could get in 50,60,early 70 are not available anymore.fed regs in 67 changed the tanning industry.the chemicals used now are different.George did not tan his leather he just worked with what he got and sanded and stained it.

bill
 
vasilios said:
the shoe shop leathers that you could get in 50,60,early 70 are not available anymore.fed regs in 67 changed the tanning industry.the chemicals used now are different.George did not tan his leather he just worked with what he got and sanded and stained it.

bill
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This may be true about the tanning process as I have no clue but I do know that a piece of leather can be finished so as to have a dull flat look or as shiny as if you were looking in a mirror. When I was in the Navy I was issued shoes that were made for wear, not looks. You would get two pair, one for shipboard every day wear and one pair for inspection and shore leave. The pair for inspection we would put on a polish that would make them look like patten leather. It would just take hours upon hours of polishing with shoe polish so that the leather would be so smooth from the polish and filling all of the leathers grain.

The wraps that are purchased from the dealers for installation come in many textures and finishes. You purchase the look and feel that you want as it is hard to change one leathers finish to another's once it has been applied.

Dick
 
rhncue said:
This may be true about the tanning process as I have no clue but I do know that a piece of leather can be finished so as to have a dull flat look or as shiny as if you were looking in a mirror. When I was in the Navy I was issued shoes that were made for wear, not looks. You would get two pair, one for shipboard every day wear and one pair for inspection and shore leave. The pair for inspection we would put on a polish that would make them look like patten leather. It would just take hours upon hours of polishing with shoe polish so that the leather would be so smooth from the polish and filling all of the leathers grain.

The wraps that are purchased from the dealers for installation come in many textures and finishes. You purchase the look and feel that you want as it is hard to change one leathers finish to another's once it has been applied.

Dick
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It's amazing what a few hours and a can of Kiwi can do for leather.
 
Not to take anything away from that cue, but I've also seen some awesome leather wraps from Ray Schuler and Gus Szamboti. I've seem some complete stinkers from Viking and McDermott.
 
Pete Tascarella has continued this tradition

I have a custom 1 of 1 cue by Pete he made for me a while ago and he suggested the Bushka leather style for it. Not overly shiny - more lustrous and smooth as silk - a beautiful style wrap that is also seamless and so wonderful to the touch. Did not want to play with that cue so it spends its time in my collection. One of the few he made with a music theme and swore never to do anything like it again as the inlay work was so tiny and refined in it. Love that cue. Also have a Burton Spain that has wonderful leather on it. Different goals and different styles though. Love them both.
 
+1 on Tascarella doing an amazing smooth leather wrap today. How much of the old Bushka wrap is due to patina, 40 years of contact with a players hand smoothing it even more?
 
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