Frank Paradise/Balsis cue on Ebay?

Nice piece of history I would think. It would look good with the set of Centennials that I bought from his estate.
 
I would like to have that cue.
At least the price is just a little high, not 10X too high like some of the other Ebay listings we see.
Somebody might buy it for 5K.
 
Should be interesting to see what the price does at the last minute. With that history, do you really think that price is too high? I would rather it be all original though.
 
Maestro said:
Should be interesting to see what the price does at the last minute. With that history, do you really think that price is too high? I would rather it be all original though.
Click to expand...

The history makes it more desirable, and Frank Paradise cues are rare, but I think $4000 is closer based on the cue value,
with a little added for the provenance.
$5000 is a lot in this market
 
Maybe I'll buy it, but I think you are right that 5K is a bit much, not way off but still too much, FOR ME. What a fantastic collectors piece. I would hit balls with it...
 
skierlawyer said:
Maybe I'll buy it, but I think you are right that 5K is a bit much, not way off but still too much, FOR ME. What a fantastic collectors piece. I would hit balls with it...
Click to expand...

And you would not be dissappointed. I bought that cue originally from a Balsis family friend in NJ. His father was a good friend of Joes and Joe gave this kid the stick when he was 10.

The cue hits very solid. I think Paradise cues without the rings above the wrap are actually very good players. I liked this cues backend design, never saw one like it in a Paradise.

Case is a Whitten and was made for the package. The original case is a Brunswick.

IMHO any vintage world champion cue, made by any of the big makers, 5k is a minimum. Remember this was used by Joe as a player, this wasn't some trophy cue given to him as a gift for doing autographs or some nonsense.

JV
 
Given that Mosconi's Balabushka sold for near 100 thousand, five grand for a Paradise used by Joe Balsis seems very reasonable. Now Joe played a lot of cues, incluing a few Paradise cues, and at least one Tad. But still, a very good piece of history, and I think a very fair price.
 
Hummmm

I wonder what I can get for my JOSS that was joe's bought off of Joes widow (from Rich Sluzalis), I tried selling this a couple of years back (if you do a search)nfor 5k also. I would think 5k even in this market would be reasonable
 
WildWing...Just curious, but where did you get the info on how much Mosconi's Balabushka sold for? Joe Balsis sold his personal Balabushka to Jerry Briesath in 1968. Jerry sold it a few years ago, to a collector friend of mine, for almost 100x what he paid to Joe. It was a heck of a lot more than this Paradise is listed for.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com

WildWing said:
Given that Mosconi's Balabushka sold for near 100 thousand, five grand for a Paradise used by Joe Balsis seems very reasonable. Now Joe played a lot of cues, incluing a few Paradise cues, and at least one Tad. But still, a very good piece of history, and I think a very fair price.
Click to expand...
 
Thought I had seen a link here that quoted a final price in the 90s, but I see the 80K price above. Well, 80% of 100 grand, anyhow. Still makes a 5K cue owned by Balsis pretty reasonable, I think, especially if it got a good deal of play from him.
 
henho said:
Scott, check this link:

http://www.huntauctions.com/live/imageviewer.cfm?auction_num=32&lot_num=352&lot_qual=


Says it sold for 80k...
Click to expand...



Thats is very interesting, thanks for the link. But, some of the information is certainly not correct. Willie Mosconis favor cue was actually a Rambow, and it was one of the most inlaid Rambow cues Herman ever made. In fact he was using his Rambow when he made his world famous 14-1 run of 520+ balls.

As far as that Balabushka go's it certainly is a beautiful cue, but I wonder how much Willie used it if he ever really did, and then if he ever won a major Championship with it.

I wonder if anyone can add more information to my comments?
 
$5k on this cue is pretty bare bones min. imo.....especially when you think super nice ones that are plainer can be $2000-2500. Easily worth multiple times of something like that with its history...not just 2x.
 
manwon said:
Thats is very interesting, thanks for the link. But, some of the information is certainly not correct. Willie Mosconis favor cue was actually a Rambow, and it was one of the most inlaid Rambow cues Herman ever made. In fact he was using his Rambow when he made his world famous 14-1 run of 520+ balls.

As far as that Balabushka go's it certainly is a beautiful cue, but I wonder how much Willie used it if he ever really did, and then if he ever won a major Championship with it.

I wonder if anyone can add more information to my comments?
Click to expand...

You're right, Mosconi's tournaments were played with Rambow cues, actually four of them, according to Charles Ursitti in the March 2011 issue of Pool & Billiard. He doesn't give an exact date when Mosconi received the Balabushka, but he does say that he played all his exhibitions with it for almost 30 years. So it appears to be his exhibition cue with the exception of televised matches with Fats in 1978, and other legends of the game in 1982 and 1983, as well as some other matches with Fats, Mizerak, and Hopkins.

To my knowledge, none of his Rambow cues have ever come onto auction. It would be interesting to see what they would go for.
 
Scott Lee said:
WildWing...Just curious, but where did you get the info on how much Mosconi's Balabushka sold for? Joe Balsis sold his personal Balabushka to Jerry Briesath in 1968. Jerry sold it a few years ago, to a collector friend of mine, for almost 100x what he paid to Joe. It was a heck of a lot more than this Paradise is listed for.

Scott Lee
www.poolknowledge.com
Click to expand...

Now I remember where the 90s figure came from. It appears to include a 15% buyers fee added on to the 80K, making it 92K. Just the buyers fee of 12K would buy a pretty nice cue, wouldn't it...

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=231604&highlight=mosconi+balabushka
 
WildWing said:
You're right, Mosconi's tournaments were played with Rambow cues, actually four of them, according to Charles Ursitti in the March 2011 issue of Pool & Billiard. He doesn't give an exact date when Mosconi received the Balabushka, but he does say that he played all his exhibitions with it for almost 30 years. So it appears to be his exhibition cue with the exception of televised matches with Fats in 1978, and other legends of the game in 1982 and 1983, as well as some other matches with Fats, Mizerak, and Hopkins.

To my knowledge, none of his Rambow cues have ever come onto auction. It would be interesting to see what they would go for.
Click to expand...


He only played with a single Rambow, and I also wonder what that cue would sell for to day. In the 1960's he was still playing with his Rambow at all the 14-1 championships he played in. In addition the design of the Balabushka dates it to or after 1970, so it can be assumed that George made the cue between 1970 and his death in 1975.
 
Plus....

WildWing said:
Thought I had seen a link here that quoted a final price in the 90s, but I see the 80K price above. Well, 80% of 100 grand, anyhow. Still makes a 5K cue owned by Balsis pretty reasonable, I think, especially if it got a good deal of play from him.
Click to expand...

The buyer also paid a 15% buyer premium of $12K, bringing the total to $92K. I was a buyer for a little while (and I mean little). :eek:

Will Prout
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top