Balabuska Cue Authentication - Photos

C

coco

New member
In response to my post yesterday, many of you asked for photos. I've posted them here:

http://www.richvigue.com/balabushka.html

Balabushka made the cue according to my father’s specs- 20 ounces, 12 millimeter shaft - don't remember for sure. Both shafts are the original. Dad is the only owner and won the Connecticut Straight Pool Championship with it in 1967. Since then it's been basically sitting in a case. If he recalls correctly, Mr. Balabushka sent it to him in a cylindrical box – it did not come with a case.

He isn’t completely sure he wants to sell it. He’s seen varying prices for cues similar to it, and wants to make sure that someone can authenticate it since he doesn’t have any original paperwork. We’re concerned that if we wait too long, we won’t be able to find a reputable expert who can truly authenticate it.

cswanger@mindspring.com
 
BillYards said:
Oh, it is obviously Titlist and Balabushka.

Dude... do NOT sell that cue!!
Click to expand...
Sure is an awesome looking piece that appears to be in reasonable shape.
Agree, that is a keeper.
But if you are not a player, that is a highly sought after Bushka that will generate a lot of interest from collectors.
 
tascarella will authenticate it for you.

if you want to sell it, it's worth the effort

why not sell it. but explore your options. don't sell it to any joe. after you're done here in the states, find out its worth overseas,,,,like asia. they might go nutzzz
 
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Your father can authenticate it. Not for collectors, but for any purpose other than that. If it were me, i wouldn't sell it. Unless you are very poor and needed the money for something hugely important like education - NOT a car or some crap - why sell it? You can't get enough to change your life probably, and the cue is special. I'd rather have the cue than the 25000 or whatever. I suppose there is a price I would say sell, but my guess is that the cue wouldn't go for my subjective selling point.

I had something slightly similar come up recently with something less valuable that had some collector value and a lot of sentimental value to me that belongs to my parents. I was disgusted when the idea of maybe selling it was broached. It was pointless. It wasn't like the item would fetch enough to buy another house or put big money in the bank. It wouldn't bring enough to even buy a car. So why sell? It just struck me as a form of self disrespect, in that what should have been a valued possession acquired because of a little bit of unique effort (in 1969 FWIW) could be sold for a little money that wasn't really needed.

I am starting to buy better quality stuff. I suppose we are fortunate to be able to do it. And perhaps some would say it is a waste. But I think there is some value to having very good quality useful items that aren't just junk. I would love it if my son someday appreciated having an expensive watch I had for 40 years or my now and future cues.
 
Im going to go with the consesus on this. You should definately keep it. It is something your father obviously loved a lot and you should keep it as a tribute to him. Instead of getting money out of it, you should put money into it. Invest in a nice case or something like that so you can display it as a memory of your father. That is something to cherish, not to sell for 20k. 20k seems like a lot now, but a memory of a loved family member (especially a father) is priceless, especially when you have a relic like that.

People do not live forever, something like this would be good to have later in life as a memory.
 
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I'm going to offer you my opinion, which disagrees somewhat with a few previous posters. If I could get $20k for this cue right now, I would certainly sell it....absolutely no question. As a dealer of custom cues, we would not expect to get that kind of money right now for it, unless it has full documentation, the shipping tube, and maybe even a receipt/sales slip from George. As it is, maybe $10k-$12k.

I would definitely recommend that you get a letter from Pete Tascarella or Bill Schick for authentication purposes. Shipping it to them and back will be the absolutely best $150 or so you could spend. Better yet, deliver it in person. The only problem I see with sitting on this particular cue long-term (if you are strictly thinking strictly investment) is that it is a plain jane cue....on the lower-end of styles of cues he produced. Nothing wrong with that, it's a real clean and nice cue. But, the plainer ones have not proven to appreciate the most over the longer term. The fancy cues and unique styles have.

So, in summary, if someone wanted to give me really good for it now, I'd take the money and run.....and invest it through a good mutual fund. If you are a collector, like it, and don't have an immediate need for the money, then by all means sit on it.

P.S. Great story behind this being your dad's cue.

Sean
 
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