How Many Cues Did or Do They Make?

[Fast Lenny]

I am curious as to how many cues some of the legends in cue making have built both past and present. Anyone have the numbers on Gus, George, Paradise and the other cue makers of years ago. What about guys of today like Tascarella, Barenbrugge and Crisp? Who makes the least amount of cues per year? Just curious and feel free to post pictures of some of these guys work with your answer or info. Thanks. :smile:

 

[Chopdoc]

I have read that Balabushka made in the neighborhood of 1,000 to 1,200 cues. I don't know how accurate that might be.

The others? I have no idea.

 

[DawgAndy]

Dave makes about 20-25 cues a year, closer to 20. What full time cue maker makes the least amount of cues? Searing maybe? TW? i have no idea. I've always heard there's been more Balabuskas sold than made! But the number Chopdoc sounds familar.

 

[larry732]

Frank Coster made 131 cues. I had a fancy cue of his that I should of kept. Larry

 

[albu]

story is that Mobley make only 5-7 cues per year....but im not sure,will ask.

 

[WildWing]

I have consistently heard that Balabushka made approximately 1,200, and that Frank Paradise made fewer than that, but no exact number. The others, I'm not sure.

 

[lenoxmjs]

I believe that Ron Haley makes between 12-18 cues per year.

 

[$TAKE HOR$E]

I believe that Ron Haley makes between 12-18 cues per year.

Thats probably pretty close. I have talked to Ron a few times lately but never really asked him. I have an 03 cue and a 94 and I think to date he has made about 190....give or take

 

[doctorb98]

frank coster made 131 cues. I had a fancy cue of his that i should of kept. Larry

 

[SwissChris]

View attachment 259977

View attachment 259978

I know ..........I still love that one >>>>>>>

Chris

 

[JB Cases]

I have often heard the joke that there are 5000 Balabushkas in existence but George only made 1000 of them. I honesty wonder how someone earns a living on 10 cues a year. That said I have heard that some cue makers these days don't make many cues under ten thousand dollars a cue.

We need a cleary- style do the math video here.

 

[classiccues]

IMHO it comes down to economics to calculate the possible amount of cues made by those guys.

Bushka - (59-75) 16 years 1200 total.. 75 a year... basically at 100 each $ 7500 a year building cues... is that possible? He co-owned a pool room or something like that... according to statistics 10,500 was the median income in the US in 1975. IMHO I think he was probably closer to 1500 cues-1700. His advantage was not very fancy cues, pre-made parts, titlist base cues, many plain cues.

I would say that for all the makers. Paradise has similar parameters, not many fancy, I see ALOT of plain cues, some fancy. (48-67 or 68) Good 20 years, many helpers.. I would say 2000/2500 cues is a reality. Many unmarked, probably thrown out over time.

ON all the guys, many broken cues. Its hard to really know, those who do know are on the wrong side of the flower bed.

JV

 

[Ken_4fun]

IMHO it comes down to economics to calculate the possible amount of cues made by those guys.

Bushka - (59-75) 16 years 1200 total.. 75 a year... basically at 100 each $ 7500 a year building cues... is that possible? He co-owned a pool room or something like that... according to statistics 10,500 was the median income in the US in 1975. IMHO I think he was probably closer to 1500 cues-1700. His advantage was not very fancy cues, pre-made parts, titlist base cues, many plain cues.

I would say that for all the makers. Paradise has similar parameters, not many fancy, I see ALOT of plain cues, some fancy. (48-67 or 68) Good 20 years, many helpers.. I would say 2000/2500 cues is a reality. Many unmarked, probably thrown out over time.

ON all the guys, many broken cues. Its hard to really know, those who do know are on the wrong side of the flower bed.

JV

You didnt take into account the shafts, repairs, etc.

Lately, I heard a story about a guy that has about 100+ or so unplayed original Balabushka shafts.

I will probably screw up the story but here is how I remember it. George was building cues and lots of folks were getting his shafts.

This guy asked George to build him a couple shafts, he said there would be quite a wait as he was backed up. At the time, George was getting $25 per shaft, and this guy had previously bought 2 of them. The guy told Geroge that he understood that there was a wait on the $25 shafts, but how long was the wait on the $50 shafts?

George replied there wasnt a waiting list on the $50 shafts....(he had never got $50 for a shaft). So this guy was able to get a ton of original Balabushka shafts ahead of alot of other folks....

Ken