Originally, I was also thinking a subject like "Cue Design" was restrictive enough that the discussion would center around only decorative aspects, but as we both have seen it's become a bit more expansive.
TW
Cue Design - Who Was First?
- Thread starter JB Cases
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Originally, I was also thinking a subject like "Cue Design" was restrictive enough that the discussion would center around only decorative aspects, but as we both have seen it's become a bit more expansive.
TW
Who was the first to use a hollowed out tip-of-the-shaft to create a low deflection shaft? Predator?? 1993??? Or, was it the golf guy????
John
John
I was over a decade ahead of him on that one. But I doubt I was the first either. Maybe someone can find an example earlier than late 90's. The joints on the right three cues are inlaid also.
As long as nobody knows a different maker, the notched diamonds in the buttcap had been executed first by Paul F. Drexler in end of 2010 or early 2011.
I asked earlier about this and nobody could tell something different.
BTW: Happy Birthday John- nachträglich!
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Me too - as seen in the photo below, third cue from the left. Archived CAD drawing was created on December 14, 1993 - so the cue was built very shortly thereafter.
Yup, maybe.
TW
John
I think Predator had the first patent, although I've heard that Harvey Martin played a little with the idea. By "golf guy" do you mean Helmstetter? He experimented like crazy, but it was hit quality he was most searching for (I think) rather than deflection and most of his innovations in that regard where from size, taper and materials.
Kevin
I don't think the diamonds in Chris' buttcaps are anywhere near the shoulder, but then I don't think he realized how refined you wanted the category of your "first" to be - and neither did I.
Such attention to minutiae suggests the possibility of an almost infinite number of "design firsts" categories. For example, I generally try to have my points conclude about 9 inches above the wrap - what I call a "Nine-inch point". Now, I'm not sure if I was the first to build a nine-inch point (almost certainly not), but I shudder to think we could be splitting hairs down to categories such as first 9 1/2" points, first 10" points, first 10.0001" points, etc...
TW
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When I think of design it's primarily with the appearance of the object as that is the first contact most humans have with an object. Good design is attractive and bad design is repellent. Or better said good design evokes the desired response. A heart symbol invites the viewer to investigate the item as it's non-threatening and a skull/crossbones communicates danger as intended.
Cue design to me is much more about the visual ornamentation than it is about the engineering and 99% of the time we discuss so-called Cue Design Theft then it's about the look and how visually close one cue is to a predecessor.
So I think that it's mostly about who was first to do points of any kind? Who was fist to do certain inlays, who was first to do unbroken inlays, single-sided veneers, unbroken venneers, etc.....
We can and should do another thread that discusses firsts in engineering. I was very intrigued by Tikkler's story about Burton Spain inviting anyone to stand on his cue held between blocks. I mean as someone who thrives on demonstrating the engineering components of my product I find that to be amazing that someone would invite big guys or ANY person to stand on their cues like that. So sure, let's have a thread talking about firsts in engineering and why.
And of course there will be crossovers where some things are done for decorative and engineering reasons like Thomas' internal buttcap.
But for the purpose of this thread's discussion I think decoration is what we should be talking about.
Cue design to me is much more about the visual ornamentation than it is about the engineering and 99% of the time we discuss so-called Cue Design Theft then it's about the look and how visually close one cue is to a predecessor.
So I think that it's mostly about who was first to do points of any kind? Who was fist to do certain inlays, who was first to do unbroken inlays, single-sided veneers, unbroken venneers, etc.....
We can and should do another thread that discusses firsts in engineering. I was very intrigued by Tikkler's story about Burton Spain inviting anyone to stand on his cue held between blocks. I mean as someone who thrives on demonstrating the engineering components of my product I find that to be amazing that someone would invite big guys or ANY person to stand on their cues like that. So sure, let's have a thread talking about firsts in engineering and why.
And of course there will be crossovers where some things are done for decorative and engineering reasons like Thomas' internal buttcap.
But for the purpose of this thread's discussion I think decoration is what we should be talking about.
I watched Burton offer this demonstration many, many times. It's worth noting that he always did it with a well oversized blank, not finished cues. He also oriented the v-notch splice so that the glue joint was under a shearing force, not a splitting one.
Still...
TW
Though my English is not the very best, I think I understand what you mean Thomas.
For me it was the special deal, to place the diamonds in the shoulder. That appears to me special and for this is my cue and design, I was curious, if there are similar inlays out there.
Who was first to do thouse "crown butts" like Tony Scianella does? they are also an example for ornaments in buttcaps.
For me it was the special deal, to place the diamonds in the shoulder. That appears to me special and for this is my cue and design, I was curious, if there are similar inlays out there.
Who was first to do thouse "crown butts" like Tony Scianella does? they are also an example for ornaments in buttcaps.
I agree what Paul did by putting themon the end is a first to me. I think Bill Stroud did the crown butts first time I saw them.
I've done plenty of "crown butts" over the years, but not usually as a stand-alone design element. Rather, I like to involve the buttcap with a wrap-around crown so it mirrors the "B" joint crown (bottom of the wrap section) - allowing the buttcap itself to become an integral part of the entire buttsleeve design.
I don't think I was the first to do this, by the way, but I have done it a lot...
For a minor example:
TW
Who was the first one to put diamonds between two nickle silver rings btw ?
Was it Mottey ?
Was it Mottey ?
I've done plenty of "crown butts" over the years, but not usually as a stand-alone design element. Rather, I like to involve the buttcap with a wrap-around crown so it mirrors the "B" joint crown (bottom of the wrap section) - allowing the buttcap itself to become an integral part of the entire buttsleeve design.
I don't think I was the first to do this, by the way, but I have done it a lot...
For a minor example:
TW
wow- that s a hell of a ringwork! And the butt also screams "Buy me!"
Wonderful craftmenship, hats off..
lg
Ingo
Thanks.
Wish I had decent photos of the front of that cue, but only could find the quick snaps I took for broker previews:
TW
Rings
That could well have been done first by Bill Stroud. He was doing it before Paul. And he was known for that ringwork for a good period of time.
WP
That could well have been done first by Bill Stroud. He was doing it before Paul. And he was known for that ringwork for a good period of time.
WP
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Who was the first custom cuemaker to build or popularize a cue without a butt sleeve and wrap their cues all the way to the butt cap.
ie: This Guido conversion, or this Bludworth and Gulyassy B/J.
Its a trend I'm seeing become more popular with the newer break jump cues.
ie: This Guido conversion, or this Bludworth and Gulyassy B/J.
Its a trend I'm seeing become more popular with the newer break jump cues.
