classiccues said:
Not grabbing at straws when I quote something you said. You said it, I showed other wise. Being Martin retired in 1966 there probably were more Martins sold than George's cues. That's just related on date. More importantly how many Matin's came east?
I have the same evidence that you have to make statements that knock Georges work. You keep saying George made converted house cues and you and I both know, at least one of us does, that he made cues with blanks from the premier blank makers of his era. See here is where you really let yourself down, where is your evidence that todays wood is better?
Well it's as much my opinion as it is your to how "primitive" and "couldn't give them away". I will say that the older maple wood, especially shaft wood, plays better. Just like I believe an ivory joint plays better. But I will tell you this, regardless of who built his forearm it will still be worth more than a rhn/rhn cue even if the latter gets into a movie.
Almost all or most on my list won a world championship with a Bushka. But I have to ask, who has won a world championship with one of your cues? But things change in 30-40 years, number of cuemakers, the fact he is dead, and limited number of cues are now in the hands of those who can appreciate them.
Because the collecting of all cues, Bushka included, and the sick money they have bought over the years, solidifies a market in which you and your peers sometimes makes a living. BTW used cue dealers are not making all the profit off of Georges talents, they get bought and sold by owners, dealers alike. Not my fault I can afford to buy one and resell it.
While we are at it, what do you say to the dozen or so cuemakers that still make cues in the tradition that George made cues and have back logs of 4,5,8, 10 years? Basically the same cue construction, very close to the same within reason. I mean guys like Tascarella, Mottey, Searing, and so forth that utilize a shorty splice, some inlay work, same style joint, etc.. are they all building primitive? When you break it down, its all very close. Is there a reason that some of the best cues today are still built in the traditional style?
JV
After watching this thread for awhile I must ask a few questions, 1) Did George order 'old wood' for his cues? I don't think it was an option. It's not a question of age of, or quality of wood, it's overall quality of materials that are used now compared to then. You can use the best wood, then cover it in the worst finish and still ends up crap 10-20 yrs later if not sooner.
2) if a person uses someone else's blanks for their entire career, are they a cue builder or cue assembler?? If all george did was make the blank
look good, sometimes using furniture bolts to put the blank back together, and NEVER made them from scratch, then he was a great assembler, and the actual blank maker deserves the real credit. Based on some reseach, He used spraycan laquer finish most of the time, while better finishes were availible. Doesn't sound all that innovative or earthshattering.
Classiccues, no offense meant, but you are looking at it as a collector/seller point of view, which means you have a stake in the publics view of value, and are not a builder, and even though Dick is only stating his opinion on George, He is stating it as a builder, from a builder's point of view and because you don't agree, you are now taking a personal snip at Dick. not fair. Even if Dick could prove that George was a
good builder/assembler at best, the people that make the money off of the name will never agree, because then the market value would drop, and everyone's collection that the dealers told them where are worth money, would drop in value, it's alot like the stockmarket. Were you singing the praises of George back in the 70's-80's? or only once the market value went up after the rush to be in on it?
The 3-4 Buskas I've seen, were NOT very impressive for play or looks IMO. When I mean looks, I mean originalness, and they had age issues also. But if someone wants to pay big bucks for them... well that's their choice.
BTW out of the dozen or so cuemakers that follow the 'George tradition' how many build their own blanks???.....and use furniture bolts? They BUILD their own, don't they? Not trying to knock George down, but looking at it in the proper prospective. Until the Color Of Money movie, most people I know that
play pool hadn't heard of him as 'the premiere' cue builder, only as 'a' cue builder, and even that is a debate of terms.
Well that's my .5 cents, Merry Christmas Everyone
Dave
