Ken.....you're probably right about not being able to tell if a good cue-maker did the repair...........but do you disagree with the fact that the cue value would suffer?
Your post infers that the cue owner could sell the cue without revealing that the cue is not original and that the ivory joint had to be replaced by cue-maker X. Sure, the seller could get away with fraud and sell the cue as original. I don't think you were implying that and merely that the repair isn't going to be obvious or conspicuous in any way.
I strongly disagree that having Gilbert or any other cue-maker repair the cue the joint would increase the cue's value over what it would be if the joint was never damaged, i.e., still original condition. However, I will concede that having Andy Gilbert, or one of his cue-making peers, replace the joint will increase the value of this fellow's cue but let's get this right.........the value would increase over what the cue is worth "as is" in its broken, unplayable condition. The cue would not appreciate in value over what it would be worth in original condition as made by Bill Stroud.
Cue Addicts professionally buys and sells cues and so I'd normally defer to his opinion on matters involving pool cue values. But not on this point and I'm telling you that the cue owner is screwed on ever getting the full value for his Bill Stroud cue because of its present damage or even any future repair by another cue-maker. The only way he gets on top of this is to repair the joint and commit fraud by omitting material facts pertinent to the conditions of the sale that the buyer is otherwise legally entitled to have prior to execution of the cue purchase. If anyone offers this Bill Stroud cue for sale, or heaven forbid completes the sale, without revealing the ivory joint repair history...........doesn't matter whether the seller is individual, collector or cue dealer........anyone that would do something like that is a outright thief and cannot be trusted. After all, when a person lies and steals once, the likelihood is they'll do it again, especially when profit motives are involved, i.e., greed.
And you just don't mention or reveal only the most obvious alterations of a cue , like changing its pin which your cue's prospective buyer might have been possibly ignorant about. Nope, you pull back the curtains and tell the truth about the cue and not mislead any buyer. It comes down to this.....a seller is either truthful, honest and reveals everything material and pertinent to the prospective cue buyer or else you're just a con man and outright thief. You see you don't get to pick and choose what might be, could be, or is material or significant to the cue buyer and withholding information is stealing so you can get a better price. It's this simple.......dishonesty can not be rationalized or justified.......Nuf Sed!
The cue owner is getting lots of opinions but he had better take time to find out for himself before doing anything at all. All the opinions and advice he's receiving is free advice and it's widely known that free advice is only worth how much you paid to get it............."Nothing".
