Balabushkas
- Thread starter TommyT
- Start date
I have heard the number was under 1000 total.
TommyT said:Does anyone know how many cues George made?. And would anyone venture to guess how many are still around?. In ten years how much do you think the current cues will appreciate.
TommyT
The April 2004 InsidePOOL article on Balabushka mentions how many were made and about how many are probably out there. Of course, I can't remember the numbers, so I'll have to check myself.
IIRC, the total made was probably around 1200. There has got to be a few hundred floating around in attics, closets, and on the walls of some older pool halls in the northeast.
I have to believe some plateau will be hit/has been hit on these cues.
Fred
I thought the same thing about Hemi Cudas too. No plateau there,none with George's cues. IMO STB
It is estimated that there were about 1000 made. With that said, there are probably around 2000 of them floating around when you consider all the fakes out there. I bet the number of REAL Balabushkas out there is about 700, and the number of fakes to be near double that. Any Balabushka that is not an original (meaning original finish, wrap, shaft(s), etc.), or has no provenance (bill of sale, receipt, letter from George, original shipping carton, etc.) is suspect in my book because of the ease of copying his cues and the willingness of many throughout the years (and today) to perpetuate this problem.TommyT said:Does anyone know how many cues George made?. And would anyone venture to guess how many are still around?. In ten years how much do you think the current cues will appreciate.
TommyT
Deno
speaking of Balabushka Cues, i see on some websites where they are selling Balabaushka Cues and i wonder what these are all about? are they just copies? is it a different cuemaker named Balabushka? obviously they arent originals, but they do have the same name.
whats up with these Balabushka Cues?
DCP
whats up with these Balabushka Cues?
DCP
OldHasBeen
Tom Ferry
My Balabushka.............
It was made in 1960. It was one of only three that George made like it and later was copied a lot by Paradise. It is shown in the blue book and it is the one with the clear bottom sleeve with 2 silver rings inside. I know (for a fact) that the other two were bought (or played with) by Junior Goff in Ala & Fez in NM.
I spoke to George many times and had two other cues of his. One was a plain rosewood butt. It broke just under the joint in Okla City and the poolroom owner bought it from me for $500. I thought he was nuts but I didn't know George had died two weeks before.
Many years ago, I sent the cue to Danny Janes to have him refinish it and he told me I was nuts. He said, "Don't ever refinish or re-wrap this cue, just leave it the way it is, original".
John Wright has authenticated my Balabushka and he even made me leave the room as he made a secret mark up inside the cue that his records can identify. Between George & Gus, I have about 12 other shafts (some broken) for this cue. I have the original mailing tube w/ label.
To this day, I could take it out of the safety deposit box and it plays as great as it ever has. Buddy still says it is the sweetest cue he has ever hit a ball with.
Believe it or not - I have a standing offer from a dentist in Dallas for $23K.
TY & GL
Ps - IMO, There weren't near as many Balabushka's made as many think. When he started getting too many orders, he cut back and refused to cut corners. Some St. Louis friends of mine waited close to 2 years to get theirs and that was unheard of back then.
It was made in 1960. It was one of only three that George made like it and later was copied a lot by Paradise. It is shown in the blue book and it is the one with the clear bottom sleeve with 2 silver rings inside. I know (for a fact) that the other two were bought (or played with) by Junior Goff in Ala & Fez in NM.
I spoke to George many times and had two other cues of his. One was a plain rosewood butt. It broke just under the joint in Okla City and the poolroom owner bought it from me for $500. I thought he was nuts but I didn't know George had died two weeks before.
Many years ago, I sent the cue to Danny Janes to have him refinish it and he told me I was nuts. He said, "Don't ever refinish or re-wrap this cue, just leave it the way it is, original".
John Wright has authenticated my Balabushka and he even made me leave the room as he made a secret mark up inside the cue that his records can identify. Between George & Gus, I have about 12 other shafts (some broken) for this cue. I have the original mailing tube w/ label.
To this day, I could take it out of the safety deposit box and it plays as great as it ever has. Buddy still says it is the sweetest cue he has ever hit a ball with.
Believe it or not - I have a standing offer from a dentist in Dallas for $23K.
TY & GL
Ps - IMO, There weren't near as many Balabushka's made as many think. When he started getting too many orders, he cut back and refused to cut corners. Some St. Louis friends of mine waited close to 2 years to get theirs and that was unheard of back then.
Adam Cues paid George's estate a license fee for the right to make "signature" Balabushkas. They are not copies of the originals except in a very general way. The screw used is different as one example.DrCue'sProtege said:
Bob Jewett said:
Old ones were by Helmstetter weren't they?
These are a production line that is made in his name. I have a GB1 and shot with it for about 2 years. Over all it was a great cue and a liked it and I improved a lot with it. Had a good look to it and it played well, suited my needs.DrCue'sProtege said:
I beleive they are correct about Adams putting the line out and money does go to the Balabushka estate for these. Basically when people ask me what cue I shoot with I say a Balabushka... then when they give me a shocked look I say it's production, not custom.
I am retiring it this Christmas though, as one of my gifts is my first custom cue, a Bob Frey sneaky pete.