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[CocoboloCowboy]

What is the mystique with the name "It's George"

Noticed the other day a notice was posted in the wanted & for sale forum that the "It's George Cue Cases" were going to be made again, and the response was like a News Release that Social Security Checks would be $100.00 more next month in a community of seniors.

So I will ask again what is the mystique with the name "It's George".

 

[deep]

I'll have a wild guess and say that your hopalongpool?

Edit: Nice edit job you did there.

 

[JB Cases]

I think for a lot of folks it nostalgia. When I was growing up all the PLAYERS had George cases and the bangers had Porpers.

For many of us throughout the 80's an It's George case represented a certain status that came with good play.

At least that is how I think of it. I guess there is a bit of history there too. People are excited to be a part of the comeback of It's George and want to get in early.

There is probably some anticipation of being able to flip the cases for more down the road for being one of the first of the revival.

But basically it's just anticipation of the return of a good case. Between G.T.F. cases , which are great replicas of Fellinis and Centeniial cases, Thomas Cases, and now It's George people now have more choice in this style of case than they have had in more than 20 years.

It's like the designs of Charles and Ray Eames that have stood the test of time. Clean uncomplicated, simple. Timeless.

Bob Hemphill started it, Centennial and Gore and Kelli continued it, followed by It's George, Thomas and Engles and G.T.F.

I predicted a few months ago that there would be a resurgence in this style of case and it's coming true.

What I don't understand and got no answer too on the WFS section of the board is what happened to the deal between Mike Roberts and Mike Gulyassy?

Mike Gulyassy introduced the new it's George cases to AZ billiards and now all of a sudden he is out of the picture?

Anyone have any idea?

 

[Purdman]

I think for a lot of folks it nostalgia. When I was growing up all the PLAYERS had George cases and the bangers had Porpers.

For many of us throughout the 80's an It's George case represented a certain status that came with good play.

At least that is how I think of it. I guess there is a bit of history there too. People are excited to be a part of the comeback of It's George and want to get in early.

There is probably some anticipation of being able to flip the cases for more down the road for being one of the first of the revival.

But basically it's just anticipation of the return of a good case. Between G.T.F. cases , which are great replicas of Fellinis and Centeniial cases, Thomas Cases, and now It's George people now have more choice in this style of case than they have had in more than 20 years.

It's like the designs of Charles and Ray Eames that have stood the test of time. Clean uncomplicated, simple. Timeless.

Bob Hemphill started it, Centennial and Gore and Kelli continued it, followed by It's George, Thomas and Engles and G.T.F.

I predicted a few months ago that there would be a resurgence in this style of case and it's coming true.

What I don't understand and got no answer too on the WFS section of the board is what happened to the deal between Mike Roberts and Mike Gulyassy?

Mike Gulyassy introduced the new it's George cases to AZ billiards and now all of a sudden he is out of the picture?

Anyone have any idea?

In other words, it's an ego trip.
Hi John, Purdman

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I predicted a few months ago that there would be a resurgence in this style of case and it's coming true.

I think the Case Style is lightweight be it a GTF, Ron Thomas, or It's George. The pockets, or pocket are easy to get stuff in and out of.

Think the only draw back to the style is the top part that comes completely off, and has the potential to be separated from the bottom part of the case.

Only time with tell if the style survives, become popular again (in vogue), or goes away.

 

[Michael-Hoang]

I think the Case Style is lightweight be it a GTF, Ron Thomas, or It's George. The pockets, or pocket are easy to get stuff in and out of.

Think the only draw back to the style is the top part that comes completely off, and has the potential to be separated from the bottom part of the case.
Only time with tell if the style survives, become popular again (in vogue), or goes away.

Mike Roberts said the exact same thing about this when I asked him if he would make the "It's George" cases without the latches a little while back.

Even though the lid and the bottom part on the "It's George" cases are air-tight and are very snugged, the latch was there to help secure the lid and the bottom part even better. The latch is especially helpful 4-6 years down the road when the snuggness start to decline due to usage.

 

[JB Cases]

I think the Case Style is lightweight be it a GTF, Ron Thomas, or It's George. The pockets, or pocket are easy to get stuff in and out of.

Think the only draw back to the style is the top part that comes completely off, and has the potential to be separated from the bottom part of the case.

Only time with tell if the style survives, become popular again (in vogue), or goes away.

Oh it's here to stay. I can already tell you that the G.T.F. people want to take the design well beyond what it started as in the 70's. Reproducing the originals with some improvement was the first step. Now the next phase is to start doing things on this foundation that haven't been done before.

No matter what happens with the resurgence of It's George or Ron Thomas I can tell you with 100% certainty that G.T.F. will carry this style of case in the market for a long long time.

 

[JB Cases]

Mike Roberts said the exact same thing about this when I asked him if he would make the "It's George" cases without the latches a little while back.

Even though the lid and the bottom part on the "It's George" cases are air-tight and are very snugged, the latch was there to help secure the lid and the bottom part even better. The latch is especially helpful 4-6 years down the road when the snuggness start to decline.

The lid on the It's George cases is not air tight Mike. Air tight is when the case is closed no air can get in or out.

What Cocobolo Cowboy meant was the fact that the lid completely detaches from the body is something that he sees as a potential drawback. This is the same for It's George, Thomas, and G.T.F. I don't see it as a problem. No one is going to lose the lid to their case.

As to the idea that the snugness will fade. It shouldn't. The tubes are made of polypropelyne and don't really change shape under normal conditions. The tubes are either snug from the beginning or they are not. Each batch of tubes actually has a different size due to the nature of production.

Extrusion tubes are made by pulling hot plastic through a steel mold. The type of plastic mix, the heat, the rate of pull, the rate of cooling are all factors in determining the final size and shape of the resulting tubes. While I am positive that there are factories which can make the tubes to super tight tolerances each time I am equally sure that no one in the cue case industry can afford to buy them. In the relatively small quantities that we want we have to accept that out tolerances are not going to be tight enough to insure a "perfect" fit every time. I know this from studying this style of case for the last 15 years. And I know it much more intimately now that I build this style of case.

For example I spent several days in the tube factory adjusting the above mentioned variables to get as close to a consistent tube as possible. We went through dozens of variations to come up with the final product.

On the G.T.F. case I addressed this issue by adding a layer of foam rubber and fabric to the outside of the tubing which adjusts to the size variation and keeps the lid on with pressure. This also acts as a moisture barrier and gets the case closer to an airtight environment. For the latches I chose a latch that can be installed in minutes by anyone anywhere with household tools. So IF any of of the pressure fit tops were to get too loose for the comfort of the user then it's relatively easy to add a G.T.F. latch to the case in a few minutes.

On the contrary, the type of latch that comes on a George or Thomas is not easy to replace as many of you know, certainly not with household tools. If the bottom part breaks then it is nearly impossible to replace without putting metal into the cavity where the cue goes.

In my mind the way that we do it is an improvement for this reason. In both cases the latch does in fact serve to keep the lid securely on the case. But for the G.T.F. Prestige series a latch is not needed and we tested the pressure of the tops at between 8-10 kgs of pull. After repeated openings and closings of more than 600 times representing several years of use the pull was still in the 8-10kg range.

This was what allowed me to make the decision to make the Prestige line with pressure fit tops and no latch. Latches are available on request but they are not necessary.

We used them on the Replica line - the line that has the folded leather ends like Fellini - because that is what the client wanted in order to reproduce the look and feel of the original Fellinis.

I certainly don't want to turn this into a comparison thread and I get the feeling that this is where you are going with it to bolster the It's George cases.

Let's hook up in Valley Forge and I will show you all the things I did to this style that make it better in my opinion. Perhaps if you agree with me then you can ask Mike Roberts if he wouldn't do similar things to his cases. He might agree that in the last 15 years some things have changed for the better.

See you in a few days.


- for everyone - Please make a point of coming and hanging out with us in the Sterling Pavilion - We are going to have a pretty good party going while we show off new cues, and new cases. -

 

[Michael-Hoang]

.......
As to the idea that the snugness will fade. It shouldn't......

John,

Within the last 4-5 years, it would be a very good bet to say that I have sold more "used" Fellini, It's George, Thomas cases than anyone on the planet.

From my experience, the snuggness of the lid correlates to an extremely high degree of how "used" the case is. That is, if the case was in great or mint condition, the snuggness is very good. But if the case is well used, the snuggness disappear. That is from my personal observation from selling these cases in the last few years.

You know that I am always open to new ideas/potential business ideas.

Let's hook up after hours in Valley Forge.

See you there.

 

[JB Cases]

John,

Within the last 4-5 years, it would be a very good bet to say that I have sold more "used" Fellini, It's George, Thomas cases than anyone on the planet.

From my experience, the snuggness of the lid correlates to an extremely high degree of how "used" the case is. That is, if the case was in great or mint condition, the snuggness is very good. But if the case is well used, the snuggness disappear. That is from my personal observation from selling these cases in the last few years.

You know that I am always open to new ideas/potential business ideas.

Let's hook up after hours in Valley Forge.

See you there.

I will take your word for it on the experience with those brands in a sales capacity.

My comments were based on my experience with them in production capacity.

Let's hope that the method I built into the G.T.F. solves the issue.

 

[pathman]

I just got my brand new It's George from Michael and I love it. Having a new one was just something I had to do being a collector of cases, but I have to say, all the old dislikes about how the shafts and butts have to go are still there. I love the design from an asthetic standpoint, but user friendliness is just something you have to adapt to. I much prefer the Instroke, Justis, Murnkak etc interior configuration for a multi-cue case.

 

[cuesblues]

It's George cases

I use It's George cases for storage, my own carrying case, and as part of my overall collection. To me, I just like the "mystique" of owning them, plus they are easy to carry, and easy to use, especially the 3 x 6 cases.

Over the last couple years, I have be fortunate to find 12-nice George cases, and at the same time sell or give away some of my less expensive vinyl cases, that came in various cue deals. The George cases to me are part of upgrading my overall collection. I have a great appreciation for anything that is billiard related, as long as it is quality

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[Black-Balled]

I'll have a wild guess and say that your hopalongpool?

Edit: Nice edit job you did there.

Wish you woulda been able to quote it.

He's not George. Full Jeff.

 

[catscradle]

I use It's George cases for storage, my own carrying case, and as part of my overall collection. To me, I just like the "mystique" of owning them, plus they are easy to carry, and easy to use, especially the 3 x 6 cases.
...

Hmmm, I guess it is just a matter of what floats your boat. To me cases are purely utilitarian, I just can't get into collecting them. I've 4 cases and I really feel it too many even at that. Yet I've managed to accumulate 15 cues even though I also only need 1 of them. No matter how I look at a case, no matter how fancy the carving, or how exotic the leather, it just does nothing for me; to each his own.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

What Cocobolo Cowboy meant was the fact that the lid completely detaches from the body is something that he sees as a potential drawback. This is the same for It's George, Thomas, and G.T.F. I don't see it as a problem. No one is going to lose the lid to their case.

I see the Lid (Case Top) that is a separate piece as something else that must be kept track of. I never leave it loose from the body instead immediately put the Lid (Case Top)back on the Case as I can be forgetful of little items, and the Lid (Case Top) could be picked up by someone as a joke, or ?

Also I would like to see a separate Jump Butt Compartment in that generation of this style of Case.

Last one of the thing I personally never like with the George Cases was the Funky Plastic End Cap that are so prone to scratching.

 

[CocoboloCowboy]

I use It's George cases for storage, my own carrying case, and as part of my overall collection. To me, I just like the "mystique" of owning them, plus they are easy to carry, and easy to use, especially the 3 x 6 cases.

Over the last couple years, I have be fortunate to find 12-nice George cases, and at the same time sell or give away some of my less expensive vinyl cases, that came in various cue deals. The George cases to me are part of upgrading my overall collection. I have a great appreciation for anything that is billiard related, as long as it is quality

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Great Collection you have there.

 

[hangemhigh]

How much for the.......

I use It's George cases for storage, my own carrying case, and as part of my overall collection. To me, I just like the "mystique" of owning them, plus they are easy to carry, and easy to use, especially the 3 x 6 cases.

Over the last couple years, I have be fortunate to find 12-nice George cases, and at the same time sell or give away some of my less expensive vinyl cases, that came in various cue deals. The George cases to me are part of upgrading my overall collection. I have a great appreciation for anything that is billiard related, as long as it is quality

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Python Centennial?

 

[pulzcul]

Its Gearge/Brunswick

I didn't see anyone mention that Its George cases are now Brunswicks. Am I missing something? Don

 

[cuesblues]

Centennial

Python Centennial?

Yes, it belonged to Ernie Martinez's father Abe
He bought it new over 25-years ago. It looks like a snake, with the scales and everything. Kind of scarry looking

 

[cuesblues]

Cases

Hmmm, I guess it is just a matter of what floats your boat. To me cases are purely utilitarian, I just can't get into collecting them. I've 4 cases and I really feel it too many even at that. Yet I've managed to accumulate 15 cues even though I also only need 1 of them. No matter how I look at a case, no matter how fancy the carving, or how exotic the leather, it just does nothing for me; to each his own.

Like I said, my Jack Justis case is just too fancy to carry around, and just between you and me I absolutely didn't need it. The It's George cases weren't a bad investment, I didn't pay that much for them, they are hard to find, and I could always sell them for as much or more than I paid for them. All of these cases are filled with cues, and since I need the storage, they may as well be good ones. If the leather happens to be exotic or tooled that's great, it's not like I paid extra for it.

You could say the same thing about all of these cues I have. I don't need them, heck I play with a Jensen that I got out of pawn for Danny Medina 4-years ago. I have cues made by Tim Scruggs, James White, ect. that have never been chalked. It was probably not a good idea to buy all of these cues, but I did it, and now I'm stuck with them, and the cases.

Anybody want to buy a cue?