I have an old Viking production cue that was even in their old catalog from 40+ years ago, I have seen one close but not identical but that doesn't make it rare or collectable. Just sayin.
Can’t get a straight, accurate answer from anyone. What is the story of this cue? Mispelled Mizerak (MiSerak)
- Thread starter Bredtski
- Start date
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
The trouble is that there were some good Mizerack cues, but for every good Mizerack cue there are thousands of absolute dog shit ones. It makes the brand as a whole very undesirable. Look them up on ebay and you will see junk. Go to something like Dick's sporting goods and hold one and you will see they are beyond junk. Even the "shorty cues" are just terrible.
I understand it was probably somewhat lucrative to have your name on stuff but they did Mizerack wrong.
I'm sure the cue you have plays great and is a good cue, but there's just no one looking for one because of all the shit ones that exist. I think about 10 years ago there was a brand new one for $45 and I promise I'm not exaggerating but I wouldn't have gave $20 for it, a cue off the wall with a slip on tip was 10X the quality.
I had an even rarer miss spelled Mizerak once that had the Miller Lite logo on the butt cap as well. It was the am-5 catseye cue in the brochure. The only one I have ever seen. I thought it should have been worth about $500 because of the rarity, but after having it for sale for about a year I only ended up getting $200
If it was in nice condition it was certainly worth 200, as you found out. 500? No. The AM-5, no points, the cue itself isn't worth as much as the points/veneers cues. The logo only boosts the value a little, regardless of rarity, like maybe 20 bucks, same with the misspelling. So, what I said about the values is pretty accurate today.
I have a misspelled one, it's not in the catalog. I bought it only to have an example of one. I only wanted one with points. I also have a correctly spelled one, with points, for the same reason. That's all, not looking for more. There's just not a big market for them, they are more of a novelty.
The actual Mizerak brand has been around for decades and is low quality, and not just cues. It does drag down the value of that name on anything. It's entirely possible the Adam Mizerak cues could be worth a little more if not for that, but not a lot more.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
"Rare" does not always translate into increased value. "Demand" makes the world go round.
If we consider that such a cue might have been about $150 in 1981, that would be $550 today. Decent ones, with points, will pull about $250 today on average, depending on condition and other matters like these logos and signatures we have talked about. Plain versions less, fancier versions more, which is generally true for all cues. So, as a used pool cue, that's holding it's value.
Do they have value? Certainly. Are they very "valuable"? No. Do people collect such things? Absolutely. When you add things like misspelled signatures and promotional logos, they gain novelty.
I don't know what the deal was with Adam using Mizerak's name, but I do know what it was with the KaoKao cues. That was his baby. That was his business. He trademarked and licensed it. I have some of the documentation and talked to a couple of the people involved including a family member of Miz. They had a small line of decent cues but made many low end department store cues. The brand is still around and making tons of crappy products.
What I don't get is why people act like they bit into a rotten apple just by noticing that anybody is discussing such a thing or God forbid buys one, sells one' or posts a picture of one. I guess I don't really care much but it's just such a bunch of noise. It does not contribute a thing. It certainly isn't any revelation and shows no insight into anything.
People responded to the OP as if he was suggesting it had some great value. He said he was "intrigued" and wanted to know what it was. The only reference to value was:
Monetary value? That's where this comment started, so I'll cap it off with a relative comparison. You can get a brand new Joss in this price range (Joss Limited is $267), or a used one that is a little fancier. I just checked Ebay sold listings and you can easily find a Joss in the $100 to $250 range, more if you stretch it to $300, and they are pretty nice cues. We're talking a nice Joss cue for the price of a new shaft.
We're talking actual selling prices, not the crazy asking prices some are posting about and complaining about. So, you can have a Joss, or an old Adam with novelty. An old Adam is a good playing cue, and many are full splice to boot. And it isn't likely to go down in value.
I spend a little more on one of these cues recently, my fault for missing a deal that was offered so I had to ride out an auction. I can afford it, no big deal. My bid to assure winning the auction might shock some people. I did it to get my hands on the cue because I wanted to post more about these. Why? Because it is fun. Somebody even put an ivory ferrule on the one I got at some point.
I am a "gear guy" and like quality stuff. Guns, knives, pens, watches, pool cues, boots, leather jackets, tools, and more. I have quality shit, some of which I would literally stake my life on if the SHTF. This stuff, these cues, and stuff like them, is just fun.
Why did I post all this? In another thread a guy asked about a cheap old cue. He went on to say his dad had one when he was poor. Then people piled calling it a tomato stake etc. I get it, it's just banter, we have fun with that. I do it a lot here, but mostly I keep it to NPR. But something about it didn't feel right when I saw it in that thread. The guy was poor and that was his cue. I didn't want to be a joy sucker and post in that thread like I had a stick up my ass, so I posted here in a way that I think at least contributes something.
Do they have value? Certainly. Are they very "valuable"? No. Do people collect such things? Absolutely. When you add things like misspelled signatures and promotional logos, they gain novelty.
I don't know what the deal was with Adam using Mizerak's name, but I do know what it was with the KaoKao cues. That was his baby. That was his business. He trademarked and licensed it. I have some of the documentation and talked to a couple of the people involved including a family member of Miz. They had a small line of decent cues but made many low end department store cues. The brand is still around and making tons of crappy products.
What I don't get is why people act like they bit into a rotten apple just by noticing that anybody is discussing such a thing or God forbid buys one, sells one' or posts a picture of one. I guess I don't really care much but it's just such a bunch of noise. It does not contribute a thing. It certainly isn't any revelation and shows no insight into anything.
People responded to the OP as if he was suggesting it had some great value. He said he was "intrigued" and wanted to know what it was. The only reference to value was:
Yes, there is. People collect all sorts of novelties and memorabilia. It's a pretty straightforward matter.
Monetary value? That's where this comment started, so I'll cap it off with a relative comparison. You can get a brand new Joss in this price range (Joss Limited is $267), or a used one that is a little fancier. I just checked Ebay sold listings and you can easily find a Joss in the $100 to $250 range, more if you stretch it to $300, and they are pretty nice cues. We're talking a nice Joss cue for the price of a new shaft.
We're talking actual selling prices, not the crazy asking prices some are posting about and complaining about. So, you can have a Joss, or an old Adam with novelty. An old Adam is a good playing cue, and many are full splice to boot. And it isn't likely to go down in value.
I spend a little more on one of these cues recently, my fault for missing a deal that was offered so I had to ride out an auction. I can afford it, no big deal. My bid to assure winning the auction might shock some people. I did it to get my hands on the cue because I wanted to post more about these. Why? Because it is fun. Somebody even put an ivory ferrule on the one I got at some point.
I am a "gear guy" and like quality stuff. Guns, knives, pens, watches, pool cues, boots, leather jackets, tools, and more. I have quality shit, some of which I would literally stake my life on if the SHTF. This stuff, these cues, and stuff like them, is just fun.
Why did I post all this? In another thread a guy asked about a cheap old cue. He went on to say his dad had one when he was poor. Then people piled calling it a tomato stake etc. I get it, it's just banter, we have fun with that. I do it a lot here, but mostly I keep it to NPR. But something about it didn't feel right when I saw it in that thread. The guy was poor and that was his cue. I didn't want to be a joy sucker and post in that thread like I had a stick up my ass, so I posted here in a way that I think at least contributes something.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
Here is my opinion. (But first, I took the "tomato stake" thread to be a farce -- he was pulling our legs. Maybe I am wrong.) Here. I detected that the OP showed "attitude" from jump street. He complains that he cannot get the answers he wants, as though his posting a query on the internet could obligate others to respond in a particular way. "Okay great".
Then he says "there must be some value to it collecting wise…. " Fine. You can determine this for you, but you cannot dictate what the rest of us should conclude is collectible or has "some value" as a collectible . I humbly submit the world disagrees with the OP. If the world found the instant cue to have "some value to it collecting wise…. ", there would be "demand" and the price would be out the roof. People would be asking "Is it for sale?" if there was demand. He would have never found it necessary to inquire at all. (Then there is the esoteric argument as to the interpretation to be afforded the term "some value".)
After throwing the fat in the fire, our OP disappears and fails to supply important information/context/clarification, and leaves us to speculate. I tried to get clarification as to what it was that the OP was saying:
"Why do I keep thinking that you feel or hope it is worth a lot of money?"
I also feel my additional inquiries were legitimate:
"What did you pay for it?"
"What do you think it is worth?"
Then he says "there must be some value to it collecting wise…. " Fine. You can determine this for you, but you cannot dictate what the rest of us should conclude is collectible or has "some value" as a collectible . I humbly submit the world disagrees with the OP. If the world found the instant cue to have "some value to it collecting wise…. ", there would be "demand" and the price would be out the roof. People would be asking "Is it for sale?" if there was demand. He would have never found it necessary to inquire at all. (Then there is the esoteric argument as to the interpretation to be afforded the term "some value".)
After throwing the fat in the fire, our OP disappears and fails to supply important information/context/clarification, and leaves us to speculate. I tried to get clarification as to what it was that the OP was saying:
"Why do I keep thinking that you feel or hope it is worth a lot of money?"
I also feel my additional inquiries were legitimate:
"What did you pay for it?"
"What do you think it is worth?"
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Your knowledge never ceases to amaze me! Great post.
I get it.
I had to get past my own aggravations about such things to get back to enjoying this stuff. People ask what they ask, say what they say...and sometimes just don't say anything.
On cue matters, ID, value, etc., I tend to avoid commenting unless I can positively contribute. Believe me, that takes effort.
If I ask further questions I can't be bothered with whether or not they are answered or what the answers are.
I try to keep a positive attitude, otherwise it ends up being a fun sucker for me.
Biloxi Boy
Man With A Golden Arm
The problems arise from the fact that folks buy cues and hope that they may have a windfall in monetary terms. Monetary windfalls are fine and good, but I would never buy a cue for any price unless I fundamentally love it -- its design, its feel, its hit -- are, for me, the proper reasons to buy a cue.
Finding, inheriting, being gifted, a cue are each a little different, but the hope of a monetary windfall should be the last reason one personally values such cues. Gifts, are well, gifts, and involvement in the gift of a cue, going either way, is a very special thing. Inherited cues are very much the same ilk. A found anything is special in its own way -- like a silver coin or a wheat penny picked up in change. As "sliders" they have lost much of their potential monetary value (sometimes we get lucky) but as found items they remain special and valuable to me.
I advise against buying cues speculating they may be more than exactly what they seem to be UNLESS you really know cues. It is not an endeavor for the lesser experienced. I do not have such knowledge, so I stick to buying cues I love.
Finding, inheriting, being gifted, a cue are each a little different, but the hope of a monetary windfall should be the last reason one personally values such cues. Gifts, are well, gifts, and involvement in the gift of a cue, going either way, is a very special thing. Inherited cues are very much the same ilk. A found anything is special in its own way -- like a silver coin or a wheat penny picked up in change. As "sliders" they have lost much of their potential monetary value (sometimes we get lucky) but as found items they remain special and valuable to me.
I advise against buying cues speculating they may be more than exactly what they seem to be UNLESS you really know cues. It is not an endeavor for the lesser experienced. I do not have such knowledge, so I stick to buying cues I love.
Paul_#_
Well-known member
AZBilliards is a gold mine and a snake pit. Posters like it, tolerate it, lurk, or leave.
boogieman
It don't mean a thing if it ain't got that ping.
I have a Joss my dad got at the pawn shop about a decade before he passed. It's not a high end model, the shaft has a chunk out of it the size of half a match head and it has some wear. But it does play well. Even if it didn't it would not be for sale. A lot of these "cheap" cues are priceless as far as sentimentality goes. Heck, if it had been a $20 junk cue and my dad had owned it I wouldn't get rid of it. I take the Joss out for a spin every once in a while and I do let people use it. It's not setting out in the "house cue" rack but all of my pool playing friends have played with it when they didn't have their "kindling" on them and stopped by. But for some of my rowdy friends who might get drunk and drop stuff there are a few 1 piece cues they are welcome to use.
I always try to be somewhat nice because sometimes people are curious about an inherited cue and want to learn about it. I won't tell them it's expensive or anything. Usually something like while not valuable, it would make a good playing cue with a new tip and you can't put a price on the sentimental value.
I have no doubt OP's cue would make a great player. It's not the junky Mizerack line, it's a quality cue but realistically you're not going to get over $200 for it, and that would be to the right buyer. If I saw one at a garage sale or pawn shop or something and it wasn't totally outrageous I'd buy it. I'm curious to see what an ADAM plays like. I know they were good cues but I've never shot with one.
The last one on ebay went well over 200 in an open auction, and it wasn't even listed correctly. That makes it very realistic.
The Old Jaybird
Well-known member
true enough, my morning "BMs" are rare and unique, but pretty low in demand.
Yet the older you get the more you will treasure them. And if you lose them you will pay a gastroenterologist or surgeon hefty sums to get them back.
The Old Jaybird
Well-known member
I've had 4 colonoscopies and due for another. Oh, what fun!!!