I don't think these are so new. Maybe the wraps? But the finish etc looks older.
I am sure you can identify these cues (original Balabushka)
- Thread starter Lepine
- Start date
Wow. Even older than I thought. I was thinking 70's by the finish etc.
Lepine
Member
The fancier one has a relatively "new" wrap. The other simpler one has an original wrap from 1960s.
Lepine
Member
I have a letter from the second owner of the cue that new the first owner of the cue. The cue was made in 1965. The fancier cue was made before 1970.
Cool.
Yeah, I think I was focusing on the newer wrap.
We're used to seeing so many newer "tribute" cues, so not surprising people would think they are newer than that.
Very cool cues.
I will add that the edited out info in the descriptions is revealing. I actually didn't read that before.
I see you've removed the reference to Balabushka with respect to the shafts. If we go back that far to the mid-60s, one maker stands out that is Tad Kohara that did "Bushka" styles way back then. For example, Luther Lassiter played with a Tad cue for decades that people swore was a Bushka.
Lepine
Member
That is true, that those very early TADs and Gina did look like the 1959-1964 era Titleist Balabushka, but to my knowledge, the TADs we are talking about are the ones with windows and foil inserts of the name of the maker or original owner of the cues. This style is from the 1965-1970s era, by which time TADs and Ginacue looked similar at times, but they looked different from Frank Paradise, George Balabushka, and Rambo to my knowledge, and Palmers. My cues are East Coast cues and not West Coast cues.
This is very similar to Luther Lassiter's cue from the 60s to the 80s, a TAD, not a Bushka. But you say your current cues are East Coast, not West Coast. Too early design for Balabushka, not right for Palmer or Paradise. Not right for Fedunka. Definitely not a Karl Mayer.
That's why I asked for pictures underneath the bumper.
Lepine
Member
Well, had a feeling of that, but your pictures and clues weren't helping. However, since you didn't post a pic of beneath the bumper, it makes sense now. No other maker on the East Coast was quite like that.
Larry had another Bushka, probably later. He won it from Steve Mizerak in a straight pool contest. Different look, probably early 70s.
Lepine
Member
Correct, the one he won off of Mizerak is a Gus Szamboti blank cue with wood butt sleeve, maple windows and I think ivory arch inlays connecting the windows.
My cue was owned by Larry Lisciotti from 1986 to 1991. It was the acrylic butt sleeve era. You could see in all the photos of the inlays where he chipped away the round circle holes into the diamond shapes to add the mop slotted diamonds.
My cue was owned by Larry Lisciotti from 1986 to 1991. It was the acrylic butt sleeve era. You could see in all the photos of the inlays where he chipped away the round circle holes into the diamond shapes to add the mop slotted diamonds.
Yes, Larry's later cue was the maple windows butt sleeve with ivory arch inlays connecting the windows. If I remember right, Larry and Steve were gambling in Asbury Park, NJ, and Larry ended up winning Steve's cue. No matter, as Steve later on went to have George make what is the famous "Dove" Balabushka.