Brunswick 26 1/2

[todywayne]

After extensive online searches, including every catalog available on the Brunswick website... The mystery remains can Veneer Colors be used to determine a 26 1/2 cues age if there is no decal or wedge to go by...?

I did find out that the 26 1/2 first appeared in the 1898 Catalog... Pics attached...

I'm also including a pic of the veneers of my 26 1/2 Purpleheart cue in hopes someone might be able to put a year to it, as the shaft and wedge were already removed...!

Thanks in advance for your time...!

 

[mikemosconi]

Where did you hear that one can specifically define the year of an antique cue just by veneer colors? I have never heard of that claim regarding antique cues.

Are you saying that you were told that Brunswick defined cue mfg. years by changing veneer colors?

 

[xX-Wizard-Xx]

i wish brunswick still made these ....

 

[mdavis228]

Those look to be the “standard” veneer colors predominantly used on the Titlist/26 1/2 cues.
Purple / Blue-Green / Brown / Natural. Colors are faded as is normal.
Your best bet for vintage ID would be the sticker. If it doesn’t have one on it now, or you have no pics of the sticker that was on it, you’re not likely to get the answer I’m afraid.
The joint collar, pin, insert, butt treatment may provide some clues to the real cognoscenti.
Good luck to you!

 

[todywayne]

Those look to be the “standard” veneer colors predominantly used on the Titlist/26 1/2 cues.
Purple / Blue-Green / Brown / Natural. Colors are faded as is normal.
Your best bet for vintage ID would be the sticker. If it doesn’t have one on it now, or you have no pics of the sticker that was on it, you’re not likely to get the answer I’m afraid.
The joint collar, pin, insert, butt treatment may provide some clues to the real cognoscenti.
Good luck to you!

Thanks for the info... Yeah the shaft and wedge were already removed, so I will most likely never find out its actual age... I had read where the standard Titlist colors went as far back as 1908 - 1914 on one individuals cue, luckily they were able to date it by the decal or a wedge... I can't remember which... I've read a lot of different threads about it... Which is why I was hoping that the veneer colors might play a part in the cues age... I've also read were supposedly some 26 1/2's had 2 veneers and others had 4 veneers... I've also seen some where the veneers were different colors and/or in a different layout... Anyhow... Thanks again I appreciate the info...!

 

[todywayne]

Where did you hear that one can specifically define the year of an antique cue just by veneer colors? I have never heard of that claim regarding antique cues.

Are you saying that you were told that Brunswick defined cue mfg. years by changing veneer colors?

Hello... What I've read was that Titlist have the standard colors and are always in the same layout... Going by pics and other threads... It appears that the Titlist veneer colors could have been used on a 26 1/2 as far back as 1908 - 1914... That it what I read on a thread... They were able to date the cue due to a decal or a wedge... I can't remember which... I guess you could say I was "hoping" that the veneers could be used to determine a cues age... Apparently, that's not the case though, cause I've seen numerous pics of 26 1/2 cues and many of them have different veneer colors and are in no particular sequence... I've also read, were some 26 1/2's may have had 2 veneers, where others have 4... I'm mainly just trying to learn and get different people perspective on it...

Btw, my 26 1/2 pictured unfortunately already had the shaft and wedge removed... Therefore no way to determine its exact age... Oh, well there's always "Carbon Dating" I guess... Just kidding...! Oh and I re-worded the thread... Hopefully it makes more sense as to what I was trying to find out...

Thanks for taking the time to read / reply...!

 

[mikemosconi]

You are on the right track to learning about vintage cues. Brunswick stamps on cues probably tell us more about cue dates than veneer colors on vintage Brunswick cues. Also the various printed words on the Brunswick cue stamps - such as minor changes in font/ script can also be age revealing. Same with how some more modern cue makers like Tim Scruggs and Bill Stroud and Dan Janes all changed their cue maker IDs / maker marks, during their lifetimes of cue making.

 

[todywayne]

You are on the right track to learning about vintage cues. Brunswick stamps on cues probably tell us more about cue dates than veneer colors on vintage Brunswick cues. Also the various printed words on the Brunswick cue stamps - such as minor changes in font/ script can also be age revealing. Same with how some more modern cue makers like Tim Scruggs and Bill Stroud and Dan Janes all changed their cue maker IDs / maker marks, during their lifetimes of cue making.

Thanks for the info... That definitely makes perfect sense... If I built cues, I'd add a drilled out penny from the current year under the bumper... I'm sure some already do something similar to that right now... Thanks again for the info...!

 

[mikemosconi]

Yes Doc Frye in PA in the 1970s would place a coin under the cue bumper dated the year of cue mfg. - he may have extended into the 80s as well.

 

[todywayne]

Yes Doc Frye in PA in the 1970s would place a coin under the cue bumper dated the year of cue mfg. - he may have extended into the 80s as well.

I knew that he did that, I just thought it was like his signature... I should have realized it was also for the date...! It was definitely a great idea for sure...!