It is explained in this thread. The veneer stack can be mitered, or it can be butted.
I'm hoping someone here can shed some light on the maker of this cue TIA
Help Identify This Cue!
- Thread starter Benelli
- Start date
I must have missed the part about the Ivory rings and ferrule sorry. In this cases it’s definitely not a Helmstetter or Adam cue.
Good luck hope you can identify it.
FWIW, Richard Helmstetter had ivory at his factory in Iruma, Japan back in the early 80s, but I never saw it in any of his cues.
I lived in Japan then and had a Richard Black custom that had a cracked ivory ferrule, so I called Richard to arrange a repair. He told me not to ship it back and to take it to Helmstetter and he gave me his phone number. I called him and he gave me directions to the Adam factory and I went there, met him, and had a tour while a new ivory ferrule was put on my Richard Black shaft.
He offered to front me dozens of cues to sell on the military bases, but not many military people were that into pool.
I wish I had bought a dozen and kept them. He was giving them to me at almost the cost of building them.
Yeah, you certainly made a big mistake my friend. Those cues were well built with beautiful designs, unfortunately after Richard left the factory went to hell in a hand basket. Like you said it was almost like giving them away at the prices he offered them to you. I have a number of the them in my collection, unfortunately all cues except for my playing cue are in temperature control storage along will all my guns. You, also luck to have met Richard, over the past 20 years he has been hermit. I guess that happens when one gets famous.
Thanks for your comments and that wonderful story.
He passed away last year.
Callaway visionary Dick Helmstetter combined science and innovation to lead club-making revolution
Dick Helmstetter, who died in Califorrnia at 82, had a curiosity and inventiness that pushed golf club design and making to new levels
www.golfdigest.com
Benelli
Well-known member
Holy shit, maybe this is a Black...
I'm clueless about cue identity but while the ring just below the joint looks similar doesn't the ring in your picture have a wrap of some sort?
Benelli
Well-known member
The design of his and the design of mine are pretty much identical except for the woods used on the forearm and the butt sleeve inlays. The two cues are almost exact opposites of each other.
After doing some picture comparing, I'd say there's a good chance it is an early Black.
Be nice to have both cues in hand to do some real comparing.
i certainly dont know or care but his real early stuff seems to me is similar. meaning similar traits. remember he made cues to order and who knows what some lame brained pool player wanted.
he was a rich man before he started making cues so it must have been more a hobby when he started.
and all makers made stuff they really dont care to see when they were beginners.( dangling participle)
he was a rich man before he started making cues so it must have been more a hobby when he started.
and all makers made stuff they really dont care to see when they were beginners.( dangling participle)
Benelli
Well-known member
If Nineball still has his cue I would definitely be trying to buy it right now!
But is sounds like he sold it.
You are correct.
He made cues as a hobby when he first started and there is no telling if there are some of his first cues out there somewhere with no make identification markings on them.
I had him make me a cue about three years after he started his cue business and I had him make me another one about three years after that.
I have talked to him numerous times since 1978.
He told me that I have called him from more places and countries around the world than anybody. I have called him from CA, the Philippines, Japan, ND, Turkey, and several other places.
He still has a little Roledex card box with my information and what cues he made for me with all the specs. He kept good notes on all the cues he made afer he started his business.
I talked to him a couple years back to have him make me a shaft and he said he didn't touch any cue order unless it was over $5K.
I didn't get a shaft.
I didn't need a $5K shaft.
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Should have ordered 20.You are correct.
He made cues as a hobby when he first started and there is no telling if there are some of his first cues out there somewhere with no make identification markins on them.
I had him make me a cue about three years after he started his cue business and I had him make me another one about three years after that.
I have talked to him numerous times since 1978.
He told me that I have called him from more places and countries around the world than anybody. I have called him from CA, the Philippines, Japan, ND, Turkey, and several other places.
He still has a little Roledex card box with my information and what cues he made for me with all the specs. He kept good notes on all the cues he made afer he started his business.
I talked to him a couple years back to have him make me a shaft and he said he didn't touch any cue order unless it was over $5K.
I didn't get a shaft.
I didn't need a $5K shaft.
Maybe you can track it down. He may remember who bought it. Who knows.
I'm surprised Richard didn't come right out and say yes/no to building it. Maybe he wants it in hand or I guess it's possible he charges like Schon does now.
I toured RB's old shop on Bartlett in '82. I already had a mw of his and when taking the tour i ordered a 4pt Hoppe. With two shafts AND a Fellini it ran me the princely sum of 325bux. Wish i still had them but back then i was part cue whore part cue flipper. That Hoppe is the one cue i really wish i'd kept. I used to 'rent' it out to guys i knew and made good 'jelly' off that thing.
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Benelli
Well-known member
If Nineball still has his cue I would definitely be trying to buy it right now!
But is sounds like he sold it.
Richard did tell the original owner he made it but when I got it in hand there were so many factors that just did not read RB cue.
Clearly I was wrong and glad I was.