Here my favorite Adam Custom Cue, this is what Full Splice Means

Kaz Miki of Mezz cues feels that Richard Helmstetter came to them because they were already producing high quality cues. He does not feel that Richard contributed anything of much value to improve the way they were already established as a cue maker.

He says that Helmstetter had already tried a few other places before coming to the Miki company.

So I think that there is some personal pride and history there that most of us don't know about. Kaz being a second generation cue maker who grew up in his father's factory certainly was present for most of the story.

I think it's a pretty good achievement that he is invited every year to be one of the displaying cue makers at the International Cue Collector's show. So regardless of who the actual "cue maker" was the fact is that the vast majority if not all of the Adams brands were made in the Miki factory.

I think that Kaz is not happy that his father's achievements as a cue maker were not properly recognized and have been overshadowed by Richard Helmstetter's involvement. In any event it took both of them to bring the Helmstetter cues to the world stage. Top quality production as seen here and great distribution as Adams did it.

Great cue Craig, wonderful insight into the history of cue construction and what full splice really is.

Thanks for sharing.
 
JB Cases said:
Kaz Miki of Mezz cues feels that Richard Helmstetter came to them because they were already producing high quality cues. He does not feel that Richard contributed anything of much value to improve the way they were already established as a cue maker.

He says that Helmstetter had already tried a few other places before coming to the Miki company.

So I think that there is some personal pride and history there that most of us don't know about. Kaz being a second generation cue maker who grew up in his father's factory certainly was present for most of the story.

I think it's a pretty good achievement that he is invited every year to be one of the displaying cue makers at the International Cue Collector's show. So regardless of who the actual "cue maker" was the fact is that the vast majority if not all of the Adams brands were made in the Miki factory.

I think that Kaz is not happy that his father's achievements as a cue maker were not properly recognized and have been overshadowed by Richard Helmstetter's involvement. In any event it took both of them to bring the Helmstetter cues to the world stage. Top quality production as seen here and great distribution as Adams did it.

Great cue Craig, wonderful insight into the history of cue construction and what full splice really is.

Thanks for sharing.
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John everyone is certainly entitled to their Opinion, however, there are two sides to this story I personally believe what Richard Helmstetter says he did. Which was to retool the entire factory, build the Kilns to process the wood they would need, handle the purchase of the woods, and design the entire line of cues for the Adam catalogs.

Before Richard left for Japan and joined forces with Dave Foreman, he set up a similar operation for National Chalk in Chicago, that is why Dave Foreman came to him in the first place. Thus National cues was born, so like I said above I will choose to believe what Richard said. Another thing is the resume on the Miki site, it is kinda funny they do list the brands they were producing before they started working with Richard, in fact have you ever seen anything they built before that time?

Have a good day John.
 
manwon said:
I suspect that they are, I have never removed the wrap on one to find out certain. I have sold a number of them in my retail store, and they are great cues to play with.

Craig
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I have always liked this series from Adam. I have thought about getting one but I have wondered if they are the old school thick butts? I prefer a thinner butt. No jokes please I'm serious.
Someday you just might get one back for a new wrap.
So if you are correct you can get a full splice cue like this for $440 ?
 
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I'm not sure when they started making them again, but they did stop for a long while. As far as I know manwon is right, the new ones are full splice like the old ones. I don't remember where or when this came up but I seem to remember somebody saying they knew for sure they were full splice.

I'm betting they are thinner butts too.....

Heck of a lot of cue for the money, but that has always been true of Adam in general IMHO.
 
measureman said:
I have always liked this series from Adam. I have thought about getting one but I have wondered if they are the old school thick butts? I prefer a thinner butt. No jokes please I'm serious.
Someday you just might get one back for a new wrap.
So if you are correct you can get a full splice cue like this for $440 ?
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I just e-mailed Greg at Billiards Warehouse to ask if they were full-splice. I didn't think to inquire were they "thick or thin", but I'll let you know about the splice when he responds.
 
JB Cases said:
Kaz Miki of Mezz cues feels that Richard Helmstetter came to them because they were already producing high quality cues. He does not feel that Richard contributed anything of much value to improve the way they were already established as a cue maker.

He says that Helmstetter had already tried a few other places before coming to the Miki company.

So I think that there is some personal pride and history there that most of us don't know about. Kaz being a second generation cue maker who grew up in his father's factory certainly was present for most of the story.

I think it's a pretty good achievement that he is invited every year to be one of the displaying cue makers at the International Cue Collector's show. So regardless of who the actual "cue maker" was the fact is that the vast majority if not all of the Adams brands were made in the Miki factory.

I think that Kaz is not happy that his father's achievements as a cue maker were not properly recognized and have been overshadowed by Richard Helmstetter's involvement. In any event it took both of them to bring the Helmstetter cues to the world stage. Top quality production as seen here and great distribution as Adams did it.

Great cue Craig, wonderful insight into the history of cue construction and what full splice really is.

Thanks for sharing.
Click to expand...

Adam alive and well - 01-29-2011, 12:31 PM
this is Richard Helmstetter replying to the question regarding the Adam Ritz cue.
this model began about 1970 and continues today---but only special order. it is mage by Adam Japan in their factory in Saitama, Japan. they currently make the butt splice there, also, but at different times the splice was made by sub-contractors, like Miki.
Miki's speciality was one piece house cues made out of ramin wood and Adam was their exclusive world-wide distributor. later Miki made various low-end cues for Adam.
at this time there is no connection between Miki and Adam.
adam has a very nice, modern factory just outside of Tokyo and makes pool cues, including all of the Balabushka and Helmstetter lines, snooker cues, and three cushion and balk-line billiard cues.
they have a joint venture in China where they make cues for the asian market and some parts for other cues.
i am alive and well in SoCal thinking about making a few cues again.
 
Adam alive and well - 01-29-2011, 12:31 PM
this is Richard Helmstetter replying to the question regarding the Adam Ritz cue.
this model began about 1970 and continues today---but only special order. it is mage by Adam Japan in their factory in Saitama, Japan. they currently make the butt splice there, also, but at different times the splice was made by sub-contractors, like Miki.
Miki's speciality was one piece house cues made out of ramin wood and Adam was their exclusive world-wide distributor. later Miki made various low-end cues for Adam.
at this time there is no connection between Miki and Adam.
adam has a very nice, modern factory just outside of Tokyo and makes pool cues, including all of the Balabushka and Helmstetter lines, snooker cues, and three cushion and balk-line billiard cues.
they have a joint venture in China where they make cues for the asian market and some parts for other cues.
i am alive and well in SoCal thinking about making a few cues again.
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Holy crap!

Richard Helmstetter!

The man himself!

Jayman has topped even himself this time. :thumbup:


Wait a minute....I just saw the date. That was posted before? I think that may be where I read about them still being full splice.....maybe....if it was posted before.......

Jayman is there a link to an old post maybe?
 
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Here's a look at couple others.

3.jpg

2.jpg
 
I love it when you pull those pictures out. :thumbup: I actually have them on my hard drive. When I grow up I'm gonna have a collection like that.

So far I have two. One Mizerak and one JR-10 (you identified that one for me). The Mizerak one is in the old Spain catalog but I don't know the official model designation. It's the one labeled 109 in this pic:

burtadamscatsm.jpg


Thanks for the link. It's the one I remembered with the discussion about those cues.


.
 
jayman said:
Adam alive and well - 01-29-2011, 12:31 PM
this is Richard Helmstetter replying to the question regarding the Adam Ritz cue.
this model began about 1970 and continues today---but only special order. it is mage by Adam Japan in their factory in Saitama, Japan. they currently make the butt splice there, also, but at different times the splice was made by sub-contractors, like Miki.
Miki's speciality was one piece house cues made out of ramin wood and Adam was their exclusive world-wide distributor. later Miki made various low-end cues for Adam.
at this time there is no connection between Miki and Adam.
adam has a very nice, modern factory just outside of Tokyo and makes pool cues, including all of the Balabushka and Helmstetter lines, snooker cues, and three cushion and balk-line billiard cues.
they have a joint venture in China where they make cues for the asian market and some parts for other cues.
i am alive and well in SoCal thinking about making a few cues again.
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Thanks - Like I said, it's a matter of perspective. In any case Helmstetter cues have always been really solid.
 
I've always personally held Japan over China in terms of general export quality, regardless of the product. Electronics, cues, appliances, cars, whatever. Japan very obviously has more pride in what they let out of their ports. I would even rank Korea over China.
 
Chopdoc said:
I love it when you pull those pictures out. :thumbup: I actually have them on my hard drive. When I grow up I'm gonna have a collection like that.

So far I have two. One Mizerak and one JR-10 (you identified that one for me). The Mizerak one is in the old Spain catalog but I don't know the official model designation. It's the one labeled 109 in this pic:

burtadamscatsm.jpg


Thanks for the link. It's the one I remembered with the discussion about those cues.


.
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That one is an AM-8 THE JADE.
 
when buying a cue

I almost wish when buying a cue, I could see these pics, its almost like buying a car. you know everything you are getting when the hood is up, in this case the wrap is off. But when knowing a cuemaker, they have specific styles in working with cues, and so it helps when slecting what you like. Awesome cue...
 
jayman said:
Here's a look at couple others.



Dude, I am truly jealous and could wish I had bought a number of those cues back in the 70's and just put them away. I love Adam cues as much as you, I wish that they received the credit they are do and that these cues were valued what they deserve to be valued at.

Well maybe some day, partner we can only hope!!

Thanks for sharing Jayman.
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