Buss "Smithsonian" Cue

HardBall

HardBall

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
The Smithsonian Museum decided to put together a collection of US cue maker's best work. They invited 12 people to submit designs and build one-of-a-kind cues for this collection. St. Louis cue maker Jim Buss was one of these people. The Smithsonian required that the cue makers agree not to publicize their entry or make more than one prototype and one final cue.

I was in Jim's shop in the early Spring of 1999. He proudly showed me his prototype of the cue he sent to the Smithsonian. Since we were working on a design for my new cue I asked him if he could make me one like the Smithsonian cue. Of course he said no. I couldn't let it go at that. We finally negotiated a cue that is almost the same. The general design is the same but we substituted natural turquoise for ivory and changed the veneer colors on my cue.

Now I have a one-of-a-kind Buss that looks quite a bit like a cue in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

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awesome... I LOVE Jim's work. He is one of the most honorable people I have ever dealt with and makes one of the best cues out there. Your cue is amazing- congrates!
 
HardBall said:
The Smithsonian Museum decided to put together a collection of US cue maker's best work. They invited 12 people to submit designs and build one-of-a-kind cues for this collection. St. Louis cue maker Jim Buss was one of these people. The Smithsonian required that the cue makers agree not to publicize their entry or make more than one prototype and one final cue.

I was in Jim's shop in the early Spring of 1999. He proudly showed me his prototype of the cue he sent to the Smithsonian. Since we were working on a design for my new cue I asked him if he could make me one like the Smithsonian cue. Of course he said no. I couldn't let it go at that. We finally negotiated a cue that is almost the same. The general design is the same but we substituted natural turquoise for ivory and changed the veneer colors on my cue.

Now I have a one-of-a-kind Buss that looks quite a bit like a cue in the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.

133182272-M.jpg


133182429-M.jpg


156348831-M.jpg
156348900-M.jpg
Click to expand...
SPECTACULAR!!!
Nice veneer colors, wood, EVERYTHING came out beautiful
 
Where at in the smithsonian?

I live near DC about 5 miles from the DC line in Maryland not too far from jam. I would like to stop in and see the cue exhibit can anyone tell me where the smithsonian has the cue exhibit housed? Many people may not know this but the smithsonian has several different builds and just saying it is in the smithsonian narrows it down to just a 5 mile radius! thanks for any help and info!

Kid
Dynomite
 
I contacted the Smithsonian in 2000 with the same question. They told me that this is a collection not an exhibit. The distinction is that they have all those great cues tucked away in a room some place where the public has no access. They would not speculate on when or even if the cues would be on dusplay. The collection is part of a larger collection of American art forms.
 
The display was supposed to open 8 or 9 years ago. It was to be in the National Museum of Natural History. They were going to do a general exhibit on pool and had an antique cue rack that held 12 cues, thus the 12 invitations. It's still not open, and who knows if it ever will be. The other 11 cuemakers are: Thomas Wayne, Mike Bender, Tad, Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue), Rick Chudy, Jerry McWorter, Bill Stroud(Joss West), Richard Black, Samsara, Bill Schick, and Perry Weston. I'm proud and awed to have my name associated with that group.
--JIM BUSS--
 
Finally....

Jim Buss said:
The display was supposed to open 8 or 9 years ago. It was to be in the National Museum of Natural History. They were going to do a general exhibit on pool and had an antique cue rack that held 12 cues, thus the 12 invitations. It's still not open, and who knows if it ever will be. The other 11 cuemakers are: Thomas Wayne, Mike Bender, Tad, Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue), Rick Chudy, Jerry McWorter, Bill Stroud(Joss West), Richard Black, Samsara, Bill Schick, and Perry Weston. I'm proud and awed to have my name associated with that group.
--JIM BUSS--
Click to expand...
Its about time you joined AZBilliards!

Guess I will have to stop talking about you now....:p
 
Jim Buss said:
The display was supposed to open 8 or 9 years ago. It was to be in the National Museum of Natural History. They were going to do a general exhibit on pool and had an antique cue rack that held 12 cues, thus the 12 invitations. It's still not open, and who knows if it ever will be. The other 11 cuemakers are: Thomas Wayne, Mike Bender, Tad, Ernie Gutierrez (Ginacue), Rick Chudy, Jerry McWorter, Bill Stroud(Joss West), Richard Black, Samsara, Bill Schick, and Perry Weston. I'm proud and awed to have my name associated with that group.
--JIM BUSS--
Click to expand...

Heh Jim
Its nice to have you posting here. With your knowledge it will benefit all here with any information you wish to share. And your contribution to the Smithsonian is awesome.
 
Niccccccccce

Great Cue sir, I am sure the other cue makers are as honored with there cues sitting next to yours.
 
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