Early Adam Cue Question

Chopdoc

Chopdoc

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
EDIT 7-3-2025: The solution to this matter is below in post #15

Some years ago I bought an Adam Rambow cue, R/A-7B (Rambow Leather).

I got two shafts with it, then put it away. Both shafts fit the butt perfectly. As I was going through my collection recently I came across it. It caught my attention that the shafts have aluminum inserts. After glancing at pictures on the web, the other examples I find have a couple slight variations in the profiles of the pilot, but all that I came across have brass inserts. Both shafts look like they have the original black pad under the tip. The tips and ferrules look generally original/correct for the cue. The opening of the inserts have two slightly different profiles, but otherwise the shafts seem identical.

I probably noticed the inserts before I even bought it. I might have researched it, but I don't remember and I have no notes on the natter.

I have not taken my own pictures yet, these are cropped from the original sale which I found in my files.

Any thoughts or knowledge of Adam cue shafts with aluminum shaft inserts?


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billiards_watch said:
The construction of this cue is bad ass.
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They are full splice. :)

I don't like the tearing I see on those pilots. I did not see that in other pictures I found.

Close up pics make it look worse than it is, but it just does not look like Adam work.

I am very curious.
 
Chopdoc said:
They are full splice. :)

I don't like the tearing I see on those pilots. I did not see that in other pictures I found.

Close up pics make it look worse than it is, but it just does not look like Adam work.

I am very curious.
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Yea this is why I adore these particular Adam’s. Value has gone up for theses and its rarer and rarer to find.

Love these old cues.
 
In the 60's a cue-maker/3C player (Bill Hawkins) from Decatur, IL.

He used an Aluminum shaft insert and installed an Aluminum pin in the ferrule!

Thet made a terrible sound!
 
Aluminum wasn't a groundbreaking new material to the industry was it? Similar to the application of carbon in today's modern equipment. I can only assume it was used for weight purpose?

Were materials scarce during this period that would allow aluminum over brass?
 
There were different materials used for inserts since before the 1960s. I have examples.

During WW2 for example, brass was scarce because of ammo production.

It seems brass has been the mainstay but there have been several alternatives.
 
WildWing said:
Nice traditional cue. Even Joss used some aluminum for shaft inserts in the 80s.
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Yes.

I deliberately wanted one of these for my collection and was looking for one. Being a bargain hunter I passed a number of them up before finding this one. I was very happy with the price, especially with two shafts.

What I hope to establish is that the shafts are original.

If not, no worries, I'm still happy with it.

I think my position is that they are original until it is proven they are not.

.
 
Chopdoc said:
Yes.

I deliberately wanted one of these for my collection and was looking for one. Being a bargain hunter I passed a number of them up before finding this one. I was very happy with the price, especially with two shafts.

What I hope to establish is that the shafts are original.

If not, no worries, I'm still happy with it.

I think my position is that they are original until it is proven they are not.

.
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I'm going to guess they're original for two reasons. One, they look pretty old. Two, those very pronounced tongues were the case with original Adam cue shafts. Just an opinion. Jayman would have a good guess as well.
 
Chopdoc said:
Some years ago I bought an Adam Rambow cue, R/A-7B (Rambow Leather).

I got two shafts with it, then put it away. Both shafts fit the butt perfectly. As I was going through my collection recently I came across it. It caught my attention that the shafts have aluminum inserts. After glancing at pictures on the web, the other examples I find have a couple slight variations in the profiles of the pilot, but all that I came across have brass inserts. Both shafts look like they have the original black pad under the tip. The tips and ferrules look generally original/correct for the cue. The opening of the inserts have two slightly different profiles, but otherwise the shafts seem identical.

I probably noticed the inserts before I even bought it. I might have researched it, but I don't remember and I have no notes on the natter.

I have not taken my own pictures yet, these are cropped from the original sale which I found in my files.

Any thoughts or knowledge of Adam cue shafts with aluminum shaft inserts?


View attachment 834344

View attachment 834345

View attachment 834346
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What did the pin look like? Sort of bullet nosed, but the same diameter as the minor?
 
For the purposes of posterity I will post my findings on this matter.

Research and the trusted opinion of a person I respect as one of the most knowledgeable about Adam cues indicates these two shafts are original.

As some might remember, I collect National and Early Gandy cues which have the reputation for aluminum inserts. These shafts with aluminum inserts are a carry-over from from Richard Helmstetter's time with National. There are not many found anymore considering they were only produced in 1970 and many shafts have been warped, replaced, or are otherwise not original.

Finding one of these Adam Rambow cues is really cool, in leather even better, more rare. Two original shafts with aluminum inserts? Spectacular.

The butt and shafts are straight.

Upon further reflection I realized I have another early Adam with an interesting shaft insert, but it came with only one shaft. It has a sort of "heli-coil" insert. It is an Adam RA-10 Le Mans, also from the Adam first catalog of 12 cues.

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20160224_181411.jpg

20160224_181507.jpg


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If you look carefully at about 4 o'clock you can see the leading edge of the heli-coil style insert in both the above and below pictures.

20160224_181602.jpg
 
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Chopdoc said:
For the purposes of posterity I will post my findings on this matter.

Research and the trusted opinion of a person I respect as one of the most knowledgeable about Adam cues indicates these two shafts are original.

As some might remember, I collect National and Early Gandy cues which have the reputation for aluminum inserts. These shafts with aluminum inserts are a carry-over from from Richard Helmstetter's time with National. Their are not many found anymore considering they were only produced in 1970 and many shafts have been warped, replaced, or are otherwise not original.

Finding one of these Adam Rambow cues is really cool, in leather even better, more rare. Two original shafts with aluminum inserts? Spectacular.

The butt and shafts are straight.

Upon further reflection I realized I have another early Adam with an interesting shaft insert, but it came with only one shaft. It has a sort of "heli-coil" insert. It is an Adam RA-10 Le Mans, also from the Adam first catalog of 12 cues.

View attachment 835088

View attachment 835089
View attachment 835090

View attachment 835091

If you look carefully at about 4 o'clock you can see the leading edge of the heli-coil style insert in both the above and below pictures.

View attachment 835092
Click to expand...
Love it.

If I owned it I would start running racks with it. Probably swap to a leather wrap (blasphemy) I know...I know.

How old is it??
 
billiards_watch said:
Love it.

If I owned it I would start running racks with it. Probably swap to a leather wrap (blasphemy) I know...I know.

How old is it??
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1970. 55 years old.

By the way, the Le Mans cue wrap was damaged so I removed it. I need to decide what to put on it.

Removing it shows the full splice with a handle attached well below where a traditional A joint would be.

20160224_215951.jpg


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Chopdoc said:
1970. 55 years old.

By the way, the Le Mans cue wrap was damaged so I removed it. I need to decide what to put on it.

Removing it shows the full splice with a handle attached well below where a traditional A joint would be.

View attachment 835099

View attachment 835098
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What a shame to put a handle on a full splice - guess it probably warped, so no choice.

I have a Burton Spain fullsplice being worked on by that Famous Florida maker, not Showman, although I did tell him he could pick it up from Dennis and build whatever he wants with it...with my approval of course lol
 
jasonlaus said:
What a shame to put a handle on a full splice - guess it probably warped, so no choice.

I have a Burton Spain fullsplice being worked on by that Famous Florida maker, not Showman, although I did tell him he could pick it up from Dennis and build whatever he wants with it...with my approval of course lol
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Warped? No reason to believe that.

This was not an uncommon practice.
 
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