I'm glad the cue is being enjoyed.
Joe's pics came out good. Cues are hard to photograph, as is silver.
Thanks
Kevin
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Here It Is The SILVER GINACUE
- Thread starter kvinbrwr
- Start date
I'm glad the cue is being enjoyed.
Joe's pics came out good. Cues are hard to photograph, as is silver.
Thanks
Kevin
That is one incredible pool cue. JEALOUS!!
You also have to take into account the age of the cue, and the time at which it was being made. It was made in 1966, when the technology for doing the engraving wasnt computer controlled, or for cutting point grooves for even-ness. Back then, everything was harder to do and the final product was this beauty.
If an unknown cuemaker were to make a cue of this caliber, I wouldnt slam it, rather I'd try to find out who it is and maybe get one before he becomes famous and the price goes up.
Probably the same reasons (not clear to me either) why I see Sneaky Petes built by famous builders command three times the price of anyone elses. I agree with you that while I appreciate the remarkable craftsmanship I don't find it beautiful at all, sorry :embarrassed2:
Granted, everyone's taste is different.
But I will tell you that for many of us growing up on the West Coast in the 60's, the cues Ernie (and Tad) were making were what you coveted. They were the coolest looking cues. They were the ones you hoped one day you would own. Back then ALL the top players were playing with their cues. I can't speak for the LA crowd, but around San Francisco you could go into a room and see half a dozen Ginas in play, usually in the hands of the very best players. So many of us are hard-wired to love the look of his cues.
The Silver Gina is a riff on one of Ernie's classic designs, now copied by just about everybody. I get why some would not find it a beautiful cue. But there is a whole group of us that do find it an incredible piece of craftsmanship and a true work of art.
Lou Figueroa
Actually, the story is in the Blue Book and has been told for many years. It basically says that in 1966, this cue was offered for sale for $3500 and it remained unsold. Later, a collector who refused the cue at $3500 offered $300,000 for it. It wasn't disclosed who the collector was.
Keep this in mind. When Ernie was selling cues in the early 1960's they were $65. By the end of the 1960's, he was a star and his clientele consisted of celebrities, movie stars and athletes. His cues were selling for several thousand dollars - unheard of at the time. It was probably some rich guy trying to tempt Ernie to sell the cue. It's not for sale, so it doesn't really matter.
Had he not started making cues again after his haitus in 1973 - 1988, my guess is all those early cues would all be priced somewhere in the Balabushka realm.
Just a side note that Ernie was quite gracious to allow the cue to be photographed and shown.
Chris
Speaking of Tad's.... on behalf of a cue collecting friend, I drove down to Tad's office one day and presented an offer - my friend wanted to order an ivory Tad for up to $50,000 cash.
I met with Fred who could not say "no" fast enough. I would have been back thrown out like a vacuum cleaner salesman if I did not quickly change the subject and present them with a gift of a framed photograph of a rare Tad collection.
He then politely explained to me the ivory Tad's cannot be ordered, no matter the cost, at all. Not for sale, no matter what, no matter how much.
That tends to drive prices up.
Chris
Scott
I think its more along the lines of the Koharas protecting the huge monetary investment they have asked the collectors to make in order to acquire an ivory Tad. If there's 20 of them in existence their value is determined by that supply and demand, but if all of a sudden the Koharas decide to mass produce them and there are 400 of them in existence, they've hurt the people (almost all Japanese from my understanding) that have forked over huge bucks to own an ivory Tad.
Its protection, and respect (I think).
Kevin
Chris
That's very interesting speculation about the value of his 1962-1973 sticks if he hadn't gone back into the business of making cues.
Thanks
Kevin
Tad makes them himself and was able to make about one a year - they are fancy, difficult, and time consuming - my understandin is they were promised to Lucky in Japan. Everybody expects perfect work and working with ivory is not forgiving.
Despite the $25,000 to $50,000 price tags, if you asked the Tad's where the profitable business is - I would almost bet their answer would be making the plain maple Tad's that sell for $1200. They can pobably make 200 of them for every one of his fancy ivory cues.
But the ivory cues will be his legacy. Tad is brilliant and those are museum pieces. They are literally worth more than gold. It's hard to find pictures of them but there is one on the back of the 3rd edition Blue Book.
By the way, the Silver Ginacue was on the cover of the 2nd Edition Blue Book.
Chris
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its like the excaliber of cues lol!!!
Hey Chris,
I've owned several Ivory Tads. They are truely beautiful... I'll try to dig some pictures out for you..
There are reasons the Ivory Tads are not available to the public, that is a private matter.. They aren't all promised to Lucky.
Best,
Ken
Ken
I knew Lucky didn't have an exclusive because I think the last ivory Tad I've seen you were involved in.
Thanks
Kevin
it was definitely a good day
and it was nice to finally meet....
kam
Kam
It was my pleasure meeting you. It was fun.
Thanks
Kevin
fbrent1972
Registered
I was at Johnston City in 1968 (I believe) when Ernie came there to take orders for his cues. He brought the Silver Ginacue and offered it then for $4,000. I ordered a player that was $115 the best I can recall. One collector I talked to a few years back told me he had offered $100,000 for the Silver Ginacue.
Frank B
Frank B
Frank
I love that story thanks for telling it. You ordering that player cue from Ernie shows the Silver Gina did it's job. It must have been great to have been at Johnston City.
Thanks again
Kevin