Could This be a Balabushka Cue

Bobkitty

Bobkitty

I said: "Here kitty, kitty". Got this frown.
Silver Member
I have a friend that owns this cue but has no clue who made it. I've seen Balabushkas before and there is one pictured under this same thread that looks something like this one. Please give me your opinion. The cue is the left one in the two pictures. The other is a Palmer. I know that because it has (Original by Palmer) in the butt piece.
 

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Chopdoc said:
IMHO Nope. Not even close.

But let's have some of the experts comment....
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How did you come to your conclusion so fast? It has so many of the things George used; rings, diamonds with cut outs, little dots, etc. There is another thread showing off a real Bushka, and they look like they could have come from the same maker (to my untrained eyes). Would you have recognized the other as a Palmer?
 
Chop Doc is correct....IMO....skins is pretty knowledgeable 'bout Balabuska cues
and let's see if he spots this thread......I trust his judgement about stuff like this.
 
No.

Joint rings aren't representative of George at all.

Veneer colors aren't representative either, and too much space between the points at the bottom.

Butt sleeve ring combination doesn't look like anything from George.

Buttplate looks like the old Lucite, not used by George that I'm aware of. More used by Palmer, Paradise, Viking, Mali to name a few.

Not even close.

All the best,
WW
 
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Knew I had a pic of it somewhere. Mali model 144, but yours has an extra band above the wrap.
 

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denwhit said:
How did you come to your conclusion so fast? It has so many of the things George used; rings, diamonds with cut outs, little dots, etc. There is another thread showing off a real Bushka, and they look like they could have come from the same maker (to my untrained eyes). Would you have recognized the other as a Palmer?
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How so fast?

I just looked at the picture. The materials and design are all wrong. I think it looks like an old Mali. LINK

Close match here: LINK

It's a cool cue. I dig it. :thumbup:

What Bushka does this look like? Post a link.

Would I recognize the other as a Palmer? Yes, in a heartbeat. And I think most of us that regularly post here in the gallery would. :smile:


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Chopdoc said:
How so fast?

I

It's a cool cue. I dig it. :thumbup:

What Bushka does this look like? Post a link. http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=453351

Would I recognize the other as a Palmer? Yes, in a heartbeat. And I think most of us that regularly post here in the gallery would. :smile:


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Link posted above.
Thanks for the information. No doubt that it's a Mali. What would it be worth? Are Mali's desirable cues?
 
denwhit said:
Link posted above.
Thanks for the information. No doubt that it's a Mali. What would it be worth? Are Mali's desirable cues?
Click to expand...

That's a Showman cue, a Bushka tribute, not the real deal, but a VERY NICE Bushka tribute.

And yes, it is obvious to me that the materials and design are very different anyway.


Worth? I hate the value issue. Too often somebody feels like they got their dick stepped on...but I will comment.

I don't know...maybe in the 225-325 range on Ebay? Yes, it is desirable to many. It's not the kind of high end custom cue some collectors limit themselves to. I can tell you I would love to have it.

A lot of guys with lower end "production cue" collections would treasure something like this. It is near the top end of what Mali made.

I consider those mid-seventies to mid-eighties Mali cues to be the real apex of Mali cues. That is really such a classic example of seventies design work.


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Chopdoc said:
That's a Showman cue, a Bushka tribute, not the real deal, but a VERY NICE Bushka tribute.

And yes, it is obvious to me that the materials and design are very different anyway.


Worth? I hate the value issue. Too often somebody feels like they got their dick stepped on...but I will comment.

I don't know...maybe in the 225-325 range on Ebay? Yes, it is desirable to many. It's not the kind of high end custom cue some collectors limit themselves to. I can tell you I would love to have it.

A lot of guys with lower end "production cue" collections would treasure something like this. It is near the top end of what Mali made.

I consider those mid-seventies to mid-eighties Mali cues to be the real apex of Mali cues. That is really such a classic example of seventies design work.


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Click to expand...

thanks for the information. I didn't know any of what you all have posted.
 
I am unsure about it being a Mali, but I can say definitely not a Bushka in my opinion. Is that cue a three point cue instead of a four pointer. If so then I am thinking it was made out of Viking parts by probably another cuemaker like Gandy, Robertson, or maybe even Ricco. Also if the veneers are seamless then I would think my conclusion is even more likely.
 
cueman said:
I am unsure about it being a Mali, but I can say definitely not a Bushka in my opinion. Is that cue a three point cue instead of a four pointer. If so then I am thinking it was made out of Viking parts by probably another cuemaker like Gandy, Robertson, or maybe even Ricco. Also if the veneers are seamless then I would think my conclusion is even more likely.
Click to expand...

It is almost identical to one of the Mali models except for the ring at the A joint.

But you add some interesting thoughts.

If it has seamless veneers then it's a whole new ball game.

Things get interesting in that period from about 1969 through about 1976. Lots of crossover in materials and design with the names you mention and more. Lots of cues like we saw come through National, Gandy and AE Schmidt for example and the various associated cue makers.

For example I know of one 1975 McDermott, made in his garage, with genuine WICO vinyl veneer points.



I do think at this point it is a Mali with an additional ring since we found a near exact catalog match. But it is interesting to entertain other possibilities.
 
Chopdoc said:
That's a Showman cue, a Bushka tribute, not the real deal, but a VERY NICE Bushka tribute.

And yes, it is obvious to me that the materials and design are very different anyway.


Worth? I hate the value issue. Too often somebody feels like they got their dick stepped on...but I will comment.

I don't know...maybe in the 225-325 range on Ebay? Yes, it is desirable to many. It's not the kind of high end custom cue some collectors limit themselves to. I can tell you I would love to have it.

A lot of guys with lower end "production cue" collections would treasure something like this. It is near the top end of what Mali made.

I consider those mid-seventies to mid-eighties Mali cues to be the real apex of Mali cues. That is really such a classic example of seventies design work.


.
Click to expand...

I had a Mali from that era (mid 80s) and it was one of the best playing cues I've ever had. Traded it for a McDermott which was also a great player.
 
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