Famous cues

Chopdoc said:
My collection contains representative cues from different eras. That's how I like it. Nobody here knows what is in my collection. Again, that is how I like it. The reality is that the "low end" production cues in my collection have appreciated the most. I can sell any of them right away for anywhere from double to 100 times what I paid. Seriously. Immediately. No sales work.









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Not a chance. Unless you bought them aftermarket for pennies or less on the dollar.

Just cause the blue book says a cue is worth whatever doesnt make it so. Most of the cues in the BB are so far off it's unbelievable.
Jason
 
jasonlaus said:
Not a chance. Unless you bought them aftermarket for pennies or less on the dollar.

Just cause the blue book says a cue is worth whatever doesnt make it so. Most of the cues in the BB are so far off it's unbelievable.
Jason
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LOL!


I don't pay attention to the Blue Book prices. Who does? People that don't know what they are doing I guess.

I am talking about what they really sell for.

And I promise you I am correct...because I paid very little. Pennies on the dollar, just as you suspected.

Good Lord you thought I meant buying the darn things new? :eek: Not a chance! :D

For example: Pick up a nice old green label 4 point Mali at a yard sale for $10 and put it on Ebay...sell it for $200 easy.


I am certainly not talking about buying such cues on Ebay and trying to flip them either.

I have a number of cues I paid $20 and under for. Yes, I can sell them right away for huge profit. No problem. I am sure you can understand that.


I love garage sales and flea markets. Also, there are several clean-out companies locally that have my number to call me if they finds any pool cues.


EDIT: Correction about Ebay. An example would be when I bought a cheap graphite cue. It was in an antique Brunswick case that is worth about $200. The case is pristine. It was in the background of the photos of the cue. I got the cue for $20 with the case. I also bought a group of 5 junk cues about three years ago. In that group was an antique that I can easily sell for $150. It was in the background of the pics, but I knew what it was. I don't remember right off what I paid but it was not much. It just pays to keep your eyes peeled. A number of such examples really actually cost me nothing.

It's a fun little game to hunt like that. Really very different from shopping for a good custom cue. And really...it's more or less a game.

Customs? Example: I have a four point Espiritu that I got for $40. Worth $400-$600 pretty easy.


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Chopdoc said:
The same is true of many things.

Show up at Pebble Beach in your really cool production car and park it next to something like a Cord, Auburn, or Duesenberg and they will likely look at you funny, like you might get their car dirty.

Then again, some of those production cars turn out to be incredible investments and are now getting attention. Even many that are not really particularly "special".

Consummate collector Jay Leno even has a BSA lightning, Miata, RX-8, and Oldmobile Toronado in his collection. Not long ago such things were just as easily junked as sold.

His high end stuff? Some of them at one time were hard to give away.


Things change.

Yes, it can certainly apply to pool cues as well.

A perfect example is Brunswick cues. People easily pay over $1000 for an Ebony Titlist.

Even the garden variety Rosewood Brunswicks are drawing good money.

At one time you could have had a crate of ebony Brunswicks fairly easily. Would be nice to have those now, eh?



Certainly the great custom makers will probably always lead the way in desirability in the top collections and among the most well-heeled collectors.

But there are different parts of the market, and they change.




My collection contains representative cues from different eras. That's how I like it. Nobody here knows what is in my collection. Again, that is how I like it. The reality is that the "low end" production cues in my collection have appreciated the most. I can sell any of them right away for anywhere from double to 100 times what I paid. Seriously. Immediately. No sales work.


You can't educate people on what they like, try as you might. You also can't dictate what they can afford. The most numerous collectors in any field generally aren't at the top of the market. Many collect things at the lower end of any particular market.

I know people here with collections that contain things like Biagio cues, old McDermotts, Meucci Originals, Adam cues, and other such things. They are quite happy with them. Sometimes they are told to sell their collection and buy a single cue. Generally the person telling them intends to educate them, but entirely misses the point. They like their cues and that is all that matters. That actually supports a market.


I am not saying you are wrong by any means. I am saying that you aren't completely right and are dismissive of the majority of people collecting and buying and selling cues.






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The hole in your theory goes along the same lines as baseball card collecting. My comparison eludes to the fact that the earlier the time in an items life, the more the item has a chance to be desirable. The cards collected today are and will be worth very little in comparison to lets say a card from the 40's and 50's Bowman series cards, etc.... That goes along with your Brunswick comparison. Of course those will be more sought after but the cues Brunswick produces today will never be anything but kindling in 50 years.

As for "educating" well some will listen, buy, and end up with collections collectively more monitarily valuable AND widely desired than those that don't and in every way that matters, THAT is what determines true collectibility of any item.
 
When I finally am no longer able to play pool I will put the Mighty Cocobolo Lucasi up for bids.
You guys can beat each other up to get it.
 
AFAIK Brunswick produces no cues today. Kindling or otherwise.

Honestly I am not really sure about what is being produced today from the manufacturers. I think I am still stuck in the eighties. Lol! Anything newer is fairly new to me.

You are probably right about earlier stuff having more inherent value, like the cards.

But I am not really talking about stuff made today outside what was said about the cues of Champions.

Someday they might have some value regardless of maker. Maybe.

That's all I am saying really.


As for the low end stuff I mentioned from 30 years ago. It's easy and fun to find dirt cheap.



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Chopdoc said:
The others do have some enhanced value, but nothing like his Bushka. And they aren't famous cues...just owned by a famous person.
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There are a few others I would put at or above this cues value imo. Willie's main Bushka. Another would be Irving Crane's favorite Balabushka of those he owned, the "Magic Wand" as he called it. I have seen a couple of Irving's cues, but never seen his favorite in good photos, only in a couple distant photos and a tournament many years ago. This is a couple said photos (photos from Mary Kenniston's collection). This particular cue had colored veneer rings, mop diamonds, and train track veneers in the butt sleeve. One of George's fanciest cues imo.

Ld7Fy9S.jpg


XH5eEHF.jpg
 
Wow !!
Thanks guys... never expected so
Many responses. Great info.. Cranes cues look like they would be
Huge $$$ now. I have seen pics of Mizerak's
In 1978 i watched Mosconi run 100 balls in no time at all
At an exhibition in MA. His cue was fantastic looking
MOP all over it. His cue case was brief case style, and was lined
In what looked like purple soft felt/ wool .
Boston Shorty gad a great looking Viking cue with lots of MOP
And black leather.. sharp !
 
John Disque said:
LOL -- OK - you have a point but.... YES! I would love to own Shane's Cuetec!

Robb Saez almost threw-in a $7k cue a few months ago (I don't rmember what it was/is), but decided it wasn't the time to retire. :)
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I got cash. Where u at freak?
 
It gets even better.

I have interviewed all of the previous generation of champions, and they really didnt have loyalty of cues either.

Several of them owned many Balabushkas and Szamboti cues. They didnt get one and keep it for years and years. It was just something to play with.

Rick Howard, (MACE CUES), told me this story. He was a road player and when he got money ahead, he usually bought a Szam or two to play with. They seemed to always cost $400 and when he was low on funds he would sell them for $400.

Buddy, Nick and several guys told me about their Balabushkas that they sold over the years for nearly nothing (in today's values). But then again, they could always get another so it wasnt that big of deal. They didnt just have one, they all had several over the years but usually just one at a time.

The top player from my hometown, told about going and playing the New York State Championships. He had just got one of the Vikings with the new "Super Joint". While in NY, he was offered many Balabushkas for it, but he told them, "What do I look stupid? I am not trading my new Viking for one of those Balabushka" He really showed them huh...:rolleyes:

Ken
 
Ken_4fun said:
The top player from my hometown, told about going and playing the New York State Championships. He had just got one of the Vikings with the new "Super Joint". While in NY, he was offered many Balabushkas for it, but he told them, "What do I look stupid? I am not trading my new Viking for one of those Balabushka" He really showed them huh...:rolleyes:

Ken
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And don't bring me none of that old wine, bring me the fresh stuff!
 
Chopdoc said:
I get that.

I was saying "potential" if pool ever grew.

Bit of a stretch. I know.




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I think you made a good point. To the right collector, the Cuetec that Shane won the US Open with would be worth alot. There just aren't as many "right collectors" for it as there are for a World Series bat.
 
Willie Mosconi offered his Balabushka to me for $2800
in Ft Worth

I thought he was crazy

I heard the cue brought over $100,000 later

I also was offered Jean balukas Balabushka at CJ"S in Dallas

it was fancy,I balked again

perhaps I should stepm up more often


I am now ready to step up for a great players cue
or a Balabushka now

dean

214 477 7323
 
In my day Schon was the pool cue of choice among many of us. Today I play with a two feather by Viking Pool Cues. I think it hits a little better than the old Schons from back in the day. Just about anything hits better than the new Schon cues IMO. Joss was another favorite. Hubler Cues which is now out of business. Get a hold of one of those with a past owner on the tour.... worth a lot there. Cost you less than a Balabuska would and might be worth as much in the years to come. It had a flexible joint that swore you could break with it and do no damage to the cue. Sadly you could miss-thread it drunk since it was a soft rubber like substance that you screw the joint pin into the shaft. Wish I kept mine today.

Post 2000 a lot of cue makers bit the dust. Viking cues almost did but had someone come in and buy it before it headed to bankruptcy court. Today the cue line is great and doing well.

Kind Regards,
Michael McDonald
Shooters Billiard Supply
www.shootersbilliardsupply.com
 
ironsoldier71 said:
In my day Schon was the pool cue of choice among many of us. Today I play with a two feather by Viking Pool Cues. I think it hits a little better than the old Schons from back in the day. Just about anything hits better than the new Schon cues IMO. Joss was another favorite. Hubler Cues which is now out of business. Get a hold of one of those with a past owner on the tour.... worth a lot there. Cost you less than a Balabuska would and might be worth as much in the years to come. It had a flexible joint that swore you could break with it and do no damage to the cue. Sadly you could miss-thread it drunk since it was a soft rubber like substance that you screw the joint pin into the shaft. Wish I kept mine today.

Post 2000 a lot of cue makers bit the dust. Viking cues almost did but had someone come in and buy it before it headed to bankruptcy court. Today the cue line is great and doing well.

Kind Regards,
Michael McDonald
Shooters Billiard Supply
www.shootersbilliardsupply.com
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No chance any production cue is ever worth what a bushka is - no matter who played with it
Jason
 
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