Interesting cue on eBay - Described as a Rambo - Refinished by George Balabushka

[manwon]

Interesting cue on eBay - Is it a Rambo or a Balabushka

Well here is another interesting cue listed on eBay, below is the sellers statement and the link!!

Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Rambow-...ryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Rare, vintage rambo cue stick, leather wrap, 3 shafts, ebony butt. This rambow was refurbished by George Balabushka in 1965-1966 , from then owner Tom Desantis a well known new york state pool player and pool table mechanic/re-storer , butt was turned down, wrap changed to leather, joint to steel, stronger than the brass and bottom was redone, The 3 shafts are Balabushka. Cue was originally made well before 1960.

Here are the photo's, and they are poor!!!!









If the above statement is true, and George Balabushka did that much work to a Rambo Titlist is the cue is the Cue a Rambo or has the Cue become a Balabushka?

 

[manwon]

Well here is another interesting cue listed on eBay, below is the sellers statement and the link!!

Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Rambow-...ryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Rare, vintage rambo cue stick, leather wrap, 3 shafts, ebony butt. This rambow was refurbished by George Balabushka in 1965-1966 , from then owner Tom Desantis a well known new york state pool player and pool table mechanic/re-storer , butt was turned down, wrap changed to leather, joint to steel, stronger than the brass and bottom was redone, The 3 shafts are Balabushka. Cue was originally made well before 1960.

Here are the photo's, and they are poor!!!!

View attachment 55989

View attachment 55990

View attachment 55991

View attachment 55992

If the above statement is true, and George Balabushka did that much work to a Rambo Titlist is the cue is the Cue a Rambo or has the Cue become a Balabushka?

Come on someone must have an opinion!!

 

[BPG24]

I looked at it when you posted it late last night, but I know nothing about these older cues... I am interested to see what the collectors think...

 

[thepavlos]

I have pretty much the same cue: when I sent it to Tascarella he said from the pin up its a Balabushka w/3 Bushka shafts but he couldn't say what the butt was, I sent the butt to Rubino and he told me it was definitely a Rambow butt (mine has the ivory ring) so obviously the story could be true but needs verifying.
Paul

 

[jazznpool]

Definitely not a Balabushka, IMO. IF (big IF) what is said is true, it is a Rambow that Balabushka worked on. Unless a big sucker comes along it won't fetch Balabushka money.

Martin

Well here is another interesting cue listed on eBay, below is the sellers statement and the link!!

Here is the link: http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Rambow-...ryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


Rare, vintage rambo cue stick, leather wrap, 3 shafts, ebony butt. This rambow was refurbished by George Balabushka in 1965-1966 , from then owner Tom Desantis a well known new york state pool player and pool table mechanic/re-storer , butt was turned down, wrap changed to leather, joint to steel, stronger than the brass and bottom was redone, The 3 shafts are Balabushka. Cue was originally made well before 1960.

Here are the photo's, and they are poor!!!!

View attachment 55989

View attachment 55990

View attachment 55991

View attachment 55992

If the above statement is true, and George Balabushka did that much work to a Rambo Titlist is the cue is the Cue a Rambo or has the Cue become a Balabushka?

 

[manwon]

Definitely not a Balabushka, IMO. IF (big IF) what is said is true, it is a Rambow that Balabushka worked on. Unless a big sucker comes along it won't fetch Balabushka money.

Martin

Martin, if what was said above is true and completely correct. If Balabushka took a Ebony Titlist that Rambo converted that was still full spliced uncut, and he removed the standard Brass Joint, and replaced it with Stainless Steel. Then he removed Rambos butt cap and Ivory ring replacing these items with a Milky White Delrin butt CAP, and installed a Leather Wrap, and built three new shafts for it what is the difference from Babushka buying a Titlist blank and converting it? Because that is what he has done to this cue, he converted it, just like he did with all Titlist Blanks that he made.

 

[TATE]

He's been trying to sell this cue for at least a year I would say. My guess is there is no documentation to support the claims. The story is plausable, but the cue would have to go to Tascarella to see if he could ID the parts and the work. Since the joint and butt are different and the cue was turned down, if it was a Rambow it wouldn't matter anymore. The question is, is it a Balabushka?

Also... my memory is fading, but quite some time ago he asked me a value on this Model 11 Palmer he was selling.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Palmer-cue-stick_W0QQitemZ190183611503QQihZ009QQcategoryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I gave him a price range and he promptly jacked it up at least a grand and has been trying to sell it since - maybe six months to a year ago.

I don't think he's doing his cue homework.

Chris

 

[manwon]

He's been trying to sell this cue for at least a year I would say. My guess is there is no documentation to support the claims. The story is plausable, but the cue would have to go to Tascarella to see if he could ID the parts and the work. Since the joint and butt are different and the cue was turned down, if it was a Rambow it wouldn't matter anymore. The question is, is it a Balabushka?

Also... my memory is fading, but quite some time ago he asked me a value on this Model 11 Palmer he was selling.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Vintage-Palmer-cue-stick_W0QQitemZ190183611503QQihZ009QQcategoryZ21212QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I gave him a price range and he promptly jacked it up at least a grand and has been trying to sell it since - maybe six months to a year ago.

I don't think he's doing his cue homework.

Chris

I think the guy is like you say. But if Balabushka modified a Rambo to that extent what would the cue be a Rambo or a Balabushka!! I just kinda like the idea of this scenario!!!

 

[hoosier_cues]

For the amount he wants for these things he could at least take good pictures.

 

[manwon]

For the amount he wants for these things he could at least take good pictures.

That is for certain!!!!!!

 

[jazznpool]

Craig, You make a good point. However, I'd say that IF this was true that Balabushka was contstrained in what he was able to do with the cue versus working from a fresh, fat Titlist blank. All he could do was modify. The cue likely doesn't have his signature A-joint. A situation like this can get fuzzy. I'm a bit surprized Balabushka agreed to rework the cue, if he in fact did.

Martin

Martin, if what was said above is true and completely correct. If Balabushka took a Ebony Titlist that Rambo converted that was still full spliced uncut, and he removed the standard Brass Joint, and replaced it with Stainless Steel. Then he removed Rambos butt cap and Ivory ring replacing these items with a Milky White Delrin butt CAP, and installed a Leather Wrap, and built three new shafts for it what is the difference from Babushka buying a Titlist blank and converting it? Because that is what he has done to this cue, he converted it, just like he did with all Titlist Blanks that he made.

 

[toomanybugs]

As Tate Said

He's been trying to sell this cue for at least a year I would say. Chris

I remeber seeing "reading" same Rambo/bushka add at least 3 times before on ebay. Once in June 2007 and this picture of the same cues was save on my computer on "Wednesday, ‎October ‎25, ‎2006, ‏‎11:24:27 PM."

I am sure this is the same cue on a different background?