Help identifying an older Richard Phillippi cue

[BookLover91]

Hi everyone!

I'm hoping some of the longtime cue collectors and Phillippi enthusiasts here can help me learn more about my dad's older Richard Phillippi cue.

My dad has owned this cue for many years, and we're trying to find out more about its history, approximate age, and whether it was a particular model or a custom design.

The cue has two shafts, a signed forearm, a light-colored wrap, and matching decorative inlays in the forearm and butt sleeve.

One interesting part of its history is that years ago, the joint pin started lifting slightly out of the butt. My dad sent the cue directly back to Phillippi, and they reset the pin for him. This was long before everything was documented online, so unfortunately we don't have paperwork from that repair.

We're particularly interested in learning:

• Approximately what year or era this cue was made.
• Whether anyone recognizes the design or knows if it had a model number.
• Whether the signature style or markings can help date it.
• What woods and other materials were commonly used in these older Phillippi cues.
• Whether the white joint collar, butt cap, and ferrules might be ivory or another material.

I've included several detailed photos of the cue, including the signature, points, inlays, joint, pin, butt cap, and both shafts.

The cue is not for sale. We're simply trying to learn more about it and document its history.

I'd really appreciate any information, old catalog pictures, or insight from anyone familiar with Richard Phillippi's earlier work.

Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Chopdoc]

PHILLIPPI CUSTOM CUES

182 11TH STREET

PASADENA, MARYLAND 21122

410-437-2386 MONDAY- FRIDAY 9AM TO 5PM

E-MAIL PHILLIPPIQ@AOL.COM

 

[Black-Balled]

The phillippis have always been great to deal with.

Agree with the doc: go to the source.

Also great playing cues. Didn't get the notoriety of other makers in the area and none of them had better playing cues either.

Id say maybe the best bang for the buck coming out of the mid Atlantic.

 

[Frosty]

Also great playing cues. Didn't get the notoriety of other makers in the area and none of them had better playing cues either.

Come on Walter. None of them had better playing cues? Every Maryland maker had a better playing cue other than Black Boars which are an overpriced bad joke playability wise.

The cue maker that really excelled and never got the notoriety was Bob Frey. People rave about his sneaky petes but his customs were better playability wise than almost every other local maker. I regret only finding this out in the last year when I bought a couple from an acquaintance who was dying of cancer. But Phillippi’s, pass.

 

[Matt_24]

Come on Walter. None of them had better playing cues? Every Maryland maker had a better playing cue other than Black Boars which are an overpriced bad joke playability wise.

The cue maker that really excelled and never got the notoriety was Bob Frey. People rave about his sneaky petes but his customs were better playability wise than almost every other local maker. I regret only finding this out in the last year when I bought a couple from an acquaintance who was dying of cancer. But Phillippi’s, pass.

I lived in the DC area for some time. Bob Frey's cues were legendary. Best sneaky petes and he could make a cue as fancy as you wanted. One gent had the coolest gambler I've ever seen that Bob made for him. Man, that takes me back.

 

[Black-Balled]

Come on Walter. None of them had better playing cues? Every Maryland maker had a better playing cue other than Black Boars which are an overpriced bad joke playability wise.

The cue maker that really excelled and never got the notoriety was Bob Frey. People rave about his sneaky petes but his customs were better playability wise than almost every other local maker. I regret only finding this out in the last year when I bought a couple from an acquaintance who was dying of cancer. But Phillippi’s, pass.

I owned pretty much all the MD cues over the years and probably did hit with them all and the phillippis weren't substandard to scruggs/ frey in anything defined by use.

Obviously, somebody feels differently!

 

[Matt_24]

I owned pretty much all the MD cues over the years and probably did hit with them all and the phillippis weren't substandard to scruggs/ frey in anything defined by use.

Obviously, somebody feels differently!

I remember seeing one good one pocket player who had a gorgeous, really fancy Phillipi cue...but I can't remember his name to save my life.

 

[Black-Balled]

I remember seeing one good one pocket player who had a gorgeous, really fancy Phillipi cue...but I can't remember his name to save my life.

I'm interested-adjacent!

 

[Matt_24]

I'm interested-adjacent!

Yeah, this was 25 years ago at Champions in Shirlington....my how time flies.