History of Joint Protectors?

[billiards_watch]

It was a different time, Doc. It would be hard to cultivate a relationship with a cue maker like I did with Tim. His personality helped, as he was genuinely nice, and liked company even when he was working. Many was a weekend when I'd drive to the shop, and if he was alone, I'd hand him stuff while he was working just to talk and pass some time. He'd let me spin and finish my own shafts on his shaft lathe as well, as I had the skill and aptitude for it.

Yeah, that fender skirt over an ivory joint today going through an airport that could otherwise be confiscated is an interesting thought. Ivory was not the liability back in the day that it potentially is today. I hadn't thought about that.

Maryland has a strong history of cue making. Tim Scruggs, Bill Stroud, Dan Janes, Tony Scianella, Mike Cochran, Mike Capone, Leon Sly, and doubtless others had their start and entire careers in some cases there.

All the best,
WW, Fender Skirt Inc.

Great story.

Look at that list of Maryland makers. Oh my...

I thought California got some legends.

 

[Hungarian]

I probably have the first joint protector in the history of pool cues. Well at least modern pool cues. My first Joss I bought in 1976 and the ivory joint suffered a crack fairly early on. That sometimes happened. Tim Scruggs was working at Joss at the time, and not only did he replace the ivory joint, but he made me a joint protector out of maple and tapped a 3/8 X 10 thread, that covered the joint for some warmth. I coated the inside with a section of paper towel. You can see where some Scotch tape ends to secure it. That was 1976. I've not heard of an earlier joint protector, though maybe there is one out there.

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@Biloxi Boy There, you now have the who, where, when and why!!!

 

[billiards_watch]

I probably have the first joint protector in the history of pool cues. Well at least modern pool cues. My first Joss I bought in 1976 and the ivory joint suffered a crack fairly early on. That sometimes happened. Tim Scruggs was working at Joss at the time, and not only did he replace the ivory joint, but he made me a joint protector out of maple and tapped a 3/8 X 10 thread, that covered the joint for some warmth. I coated the inside with a section of paper towel. You can see where some Scotch tape ends to secure it. That was 1976. I've not heard of an earlier joint protector, though maybe there is one out there.

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This is the real story. He still has the JP too.

 

[Chopdoc]

It was a different time, Doc. It would be hard to cultivate a relationship with a cue maker like I did with Tim. His personality helped, as he was genuinely nice, and liked company even when he was working. Many was a weekend when I'd drive to the shop, and if he was alone, I'd hand him stuff while he was working just to talk and pass some time. He'd let me spin and finish my own shafts on his shaft lathe as well, as I had the skill and aptitude for it.

Yeah, that fender skirt over an ivory joint today going through an airport that could otherwise be confiscated is an interesting thought. Ivory was not the liability back in the day that it potentially is today. I hadn't thought about that.

Maryland has a strong history of cue making. Tim Scruggs, Bill Stroud, Dan Janes, Tony Scianella, Mike Cochran, Mike Capone, Leon Sly, and doubtless others had their start and entire careers in some cases there.

All the best,
WW, Fender Skirt Inc.

Those stories are invaluable.