Adam-Japan's current site shows Musashi, Mugen, and two other lines. Only the Musashi are 100% Japanese-made. https://www-adam--japan-com.translate.goog/製品紹介/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US
Is this an early Adam-Japan cue?
- Thread starter johnnyjumpjump
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johnnyjumpjump
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Not sure this will add much in the way of illucidation, but here is what I know of this cue:
It was purchased from an Adam sales rep. He will remain nameless until I get his permission to name him publicly. He was a rep for Adam from 1973-2011.
In 2011 P. Vorillas sold the rights to Adam USA to the Mallen family, who stopped purchasing cues from Adam Japan and began purchasing cues from China.
In 2011 the Adam sales rep purchased all remaining inventory from Adam USA and Adam Japan, and that inventory was shipped to the USA from Japan - this cue included in that inventory.
It was purchased from an Adam sales rep. He will remain nameless until I get his permission to name him publicly. He was a rep for Adam from 1973-2011.
In 2011 P. Vorillas sold the rights to Adam USA to the Mallen family, who stopped purchasing cues from Adam Japan and began purchasing cues from China.
In 2011 the Adam sales rep purchased all remaining inventory from Adam USA and Adam Japan, and that inventory was shipped to the USA from Japan - this cue included in that inventory.
All i can say is every ADAM cue i've seen with the thin joint rings was made in China. That sticker doesn't really mean much. As said before ADAM started using Chinese factory in the '95-'97ish timeframe. Cue looks of Chinese manuf. to me. Still a good cue though. All the current Chinese ADAM stuff is very well made.
This is in line with everything I know and wrote. P. Vorillas is Patty Vorillas, who was David Forman’s … secretary or something. She ended up owning the rights to the Adam, Helmstetter, and Balabushka cue usage. So even when Don Spektar was running Competition Sports (fka Adam USA aka Adam NY), importing those cues had to go through Patty.
So, assuming your cue was part of inventory remaining after the 2011 sale to the Mallens and the Balabushka Cue Company, then those cues were made in China for Adam Japan, imported by Don Spetkar through Patty Vorillas.
Apart from some shady sellers on ebay, which retailer has stock of Adam China cues? I've only seen a couple with 3 or 4 cues on their websites.
I don’t mean to sound pedantic, but there is no such thing as Adam China.
Adam Japan at some point contracted out to China, ending that in 2011.
Balabushka Cue Company currently (since 2011) contract their manufacturing in Taiwan.
Which cues are you looking for?
Right. So Adam does not subcontract production to China anymore. Any cues produced are currently being made in Japan in what appears to be much smaller quantities than prior to 2011. Correct?
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I’m getting very confused as to what cues you are referrinng.
Any Adam cue built today for the US is made in Taiwan for the Balbushka Cue Company. The 2011 timeline I was referring to was specific to this transfer officially of Adam in the USA importing from China through Adam Japan to importing by Balabushka Cue Company directly from Taiwan. Sorry for the confusion, as this thread and the Adam history is confusing
Adam Japan does still sub contract to China. They still build an Adam cue (in China) according to their website , but there is some legalities as to the use of that name (Adam Cue) and selling in the US. Since Adam Japan came to SBE, looks like they are looking for a US distributer. i thought that was the newly formed Adam NY company, but that owner said they wouldnt be doing cues. Maybe there was translation issue. They (Adam Japan) did not have any Adam cues in their booth nor did they advertise them. They only were showcasing Musashi cues.
I’m getting very confused as to what cues you are referrinng.
Any Adam cue built today for the US is made in Taiwan for the Balbushka Cue Company. The 2011 timeline I was referring to was specific to this transfer officially of Adam in the USA importing from China through Adam Japan to importing by Balabushka Cue Company directly from Taiwan. Sorry for the confusion, as this thread and the Adam history is confusing
Adam Japan does still sub contract to China. They still build an Adam cue (in China) according to their website , but there is some legalities as to the use of that name (Adam Cue) and selling in the US. Since Adam Japan came to SBE, looks like they are looking for a US distributer. i thought that was the newly formed Adam NY company, but that owner said they wouldnt be doing cues. Maybe there was translation issue. They (Adam Japan) did not have any Adam cues in their booth nor did they advertise them. They only were showcasing Musashi cues.
The ONLY cues made in Japan afaik are the super-expensive Musashi. All the rest are made in the same plant that makes Lucasi, Players, Predator and others in China. Its the Hamson(formerly Taican) factory. Pic of a Musashi: https://www.amazon.co.jp/-/en/Billiard-Musashi-EKB-–-003-45-Anniversary-Model/dp/B077RX71HQ This cue was around 4grand new.
Let me clarify. And thanks in advance for your efforts in explaining this. I appreciate the education.
These cues are branded as Adam and sold at billiardwarehouse.com
https://www.billiardwarehouse.com/cues/adams/adams_pool_cues.htm
i assume these are made in China under license from Adam. There are currently only 2 cues offered. I was wondering if there are more designs out there.
As far as the Balabushka models are concerned, I understand that they are no longer connected with Adam Japan. I have an old one with the thick silver rings, so I'm pretty confident it's from Japan.
Thanks
The AD series of ADAM cues are from the Balabushka Cue Company. You can see their other Adam Cue offerings on their website. These are built in Taiwan. The "license" for Adam cues in the USA owned by the Balabushka Cue Company (Peggy Mallen).
I also have a thick-ring Balabushka signature cue from Adam Japan. Built around 2004, it was built in the Taican, China factory (same as Universal Cues and many others already mentioned). These were built sometime between 1995/98 - 2011. The start is fuzzy. My contact that worked in Adam Japan in Saitama at the time himself doesn't quite know the year things switched. The joint pin profile is the easiest marker.
Recent thin-ring Balabushka signature cues are post 2011 and are from Taiwan via Peggy Mallen.
I'm getting confused by the back and forth references to Taiwan and China.
After the Buskas stopped being made in Japan are they being made in Taiwan or China now?
After the Buskas stopped being made in Japan are they being made in Taiwan or China now?
Most likely mainland.
From Cornermans post
Recent thin-ring Balabushka signature cues are post 2011 and are from Taiwan via Peggy Mallen.
Currrent Balabushka signature cues as well as Helmstetter and Adam USA are made in Taiwan.
thanks,