Looking for the value of a Balabushka cue

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Scrimble

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Hello, I hope I am not posting this in the wrong place but if so, please move. As said, I am looking for the value of an original Balabushka cue stick. It was made for my father when he was in high school, around 1961 to 1963 by George Balabushka himself for $90. My father is not looking to sell it, but would like to know what it is worth for insurance purposes. It has 2 original shafts and butt, all in great shape minus a small nick here and there. The 2 shafts have writing by the joints that screw on to the butt, one says 17-c written in black ink, but we cannot make out the other.It has been in it's case most of the past 40+ years. Any help is appreciated. Just post or PM me,Thank you
 
Scrimble said:
Hello, I hope I am not posting this in the wrong place but if so, please move. As said, I am looking for the value of an original Balabushka cue stick. It was made for my father when he was in high school, around 1961 to 1963 by George Balabushka himself for $90. My father is not looking to sell it, but would like to know what it is worth for insurance purposes. It has 2 original shafts and butt, all in great shape minus a small nick here and there. The 2 shafts have writing by the joints that screw on to the butt, one says 17-c written in black ink, but we cannot make out the other.It has been in it's case most of the past 40+ years. Any help is appreciated. Just post or PM me,Thank you[/QUOTE

Take a photo and contact, Connoisseur of Custom Cues, Joe Salazar (817)453-0629
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balabushka

are you serious??? you have no idea what it worth?? i cant afford it but put it on ebay and watch the$$$$ signs lite up!!!!!!:D :D :D :D
 
If you send it to Pete Tascarella for authentication, you can really watch the dollar amount grow! It'll cost ya, but that piece of paper from Pete is worth it's weight in gold!! He acquired the bulk of George's equipment and stock, and is the authority on Balabushka's. Not to mention a master class cuemaker himself. :)

Lisa
 
Scrimble said:
Hello, I hope I am not posting this in the wrong place but if so, please move. As said, I am looking for the value of an original Balabushka cue stick. It was made for my father when he was in high school, around 1961 to 1963 by George Balabushka himself for $90. My father is not looking to sell it, but would like to know what it is worth for insurance purposes. It has 2 original shafts and butt, all in great shape minus a small nick here and there. The 2 shafts have writing by the joints that screw on to the butt, one says 17-c written in black ink, but we cannot make out the other.It has been in it's case most of the past 40+ years. Any help is appreciated. Just post or PM me,Thank you
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Oh, rounded off to the nearest penny, just about..
 

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Just kidding. These years he was using Titlists.

If it's a simple cue with 4 points with veneers (one will be a blue color) linen wrap, plain butt with a white buttcap, like $5K - $6K in decent shape. If it has a clear window, add something.

Chris
 
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Unless you place a decent "buy it now" on ebay and someone catches a legit deal before the next buyer....

Still Bitter,

-Ross
 
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Ebay still does not give you the best cash for your money on collectable cues like Balabushkas. I would avoid Ebay unless you want $0.30 on the dollar. 10K minimum. Have it appraised by someone from the ACA or some similar organization. Shouldnt cost that much. Maybe $150 bucks. Congrats on the Bushka.
 
ridewiththewind said:
If you send it to Pete Tascarella for authentication, you can really watch the dollar amount grow! It'll cost ya, but that piece of paper from Pete is worth it's weight in gold!! He acquired the bulk of George's equipment and stock, and is the authority on Balabushka's. Not to mention a master class cuemaker himself. :)

Lisa
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Right on target Lisa, and to all listening, Pete Tascarella is the leading authority on Balabushka cues.

Lisa has already made it clear however, I will say it again with the cue authenticated by Pete, even most insurance companies will not question a claim if Pete is the Authenticator!!

PM me if you want his contact information!!

Have a nice Night!!

Manwon
 
do not be suprised if the appraisal on a Balabushka falls alot short of what you think it would go for.people can ask a certain price but doesn't mean the market will bear it.at least this is from my experience the past 2 years in looking at them.
 
I can not attest to how Pete would value this cue, however, in this day and age, with all the fraudulent Bushkas around, it really is almost required to have Pete authenticate the cue for you. If memory serves, Pete charges roughly 250.00 to do this, and needs the cue sent to him, of course. Pete is EXTREMELY trustworthy, and will give you the straight skinny on the cue. His letters of authentication that I have seen will include a complete and accurate description of the cue, and if he knows it, perhaps a bit of history too.

Mark K @ classiccues.com would certainly be able to help you a relative value on the cue, but I would suspect that he will also advise that you have the cue authenticated, perhaps even before he could give you a true and correct appraisal.

I am sure that once JoeVan sees this thread, he'll chime in. I am no expert on these cues, by any stretch, but I have learned enough to know that the Letter of Authentication from Pete Tascarella is really vital to what you and your father are looking for. Let's just say that with it, your dad's 90.00 cue investment could potentially be worth a butt-load of money!!:D

Lisa
 
skins said:
sorry in advance "butt" i couldn't resist the visual. i think you might have meant "boat load" :D

ButtLoadMoney.jpg
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Oh, okay....I guess a boat-load of money is a lot more than a butt-load of money.:D How about...a gagillion-bazillion dollars!:p

Edited: OMG!!! That pic did not load when I first read your post!! Imagine my surprise when I finally saw that a$$ full of cash!!:eek: :eek: Now that's what I call an ATM!!

Lisa
 
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ridewiththewind said:
Edited: OMG!!! That pic did not load when I first read your post!! Imagine my surprise when I finally saw that a$$ full of cash!!:eek: :eek: Now that's what I call an ATM!!

Lisa
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sorry for the surprise. i deleeted it at photobucket and didn't realize it would leave the post also. i hope it was at least a funny shock. :)
 
skins said:
sorry for the surprise. i deleeted it at photobucket and didn't realize it would leave the post also. i hope it was at least a funny shock. :)
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Oh yeah.....I was crack-ing up laughing!!! The only problem now is I got Sir Mix-A-Lot's 'Baby Got Back' running through my head now!

Lisa
 
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