Mike Fedunka Cues

classiccues

classiccues

Morgan set complete...
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Mike Fedunka was from NJ and worked in cues at a time when NJ cuemaking was at its peak. Palmer, Paradise were the two main guys, but even they had help. Mike used to work with Frank Paradise on and off, and I do not know if he did time at Palmer. Mike was also partnered with Karl Meyer who was another NJ cuemaker.

Mike loved cues and didn't let a debilitating condition on his hand deter him from making cues. He worked out of his house and made some cues that have been confused with Szamboti's, Bushka's, Paradise and Palmers. As you'll see from the pics, this guy could emulate about any cuemaker. It didn't hurt that he was buying Szamboti blanks.

Mike was doing work for another NJ staple, Mike the Russian. Mike sold a lot of Fedunkas cues for Fedunka and I am sure Mike had some design input of his own. The Russian was selling cues before cuedealing was fashionable.

These are some cues from Mike already posted on AZ. These I group shot, and I'll post links to the threads that have other Fedunkas. As I didn't take the photos and therefore will not post them in the thread directly.

You can see the Szamboti influence in both these cues. The red and green veneered cue has multiple attributes that one would attribute to a Gus and the backend is nearly identical to older Gus Szamboti cues. In fact I think Tikklers WICO Gus, has a similar backend.

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=170951&highlight=fedunka

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=49230&highlight=fedunka

http://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=115740&highlight=fedunka


Joe
 

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I grew up in New Jersey, my parents owned pool halls called B+L Billiards. I remember Mike the Russian, he was playing with an old Rambo cue. My dad bought a Balabushka off him. Actually, he loaned Mike $ and held the Balabushka as collateral but Mike never was able to get it back. My dad used that bushka as his main player for a while then sold it as he was not a collector. I remember seeing a Karl Meyer cue that we bought and sold. Pete Tascarella told me about Fedunka and thought a cue I had at one time, that was represented as a bushka was really a Fedunka. Thanks for posting, brought back memories!
 
skierlawyer said:
I grew up in New Jersey, my parents owned pool halls called B+L Billiards. I remember Mike the Russian, he was playing with an old Rambo cue. My dad bought a Balabushka off him. Actually, he loaned Mike $ and held the Balabushka as collateral but Mike never was able to get it back. My dad used that bushka as his main player for a while then sold it as he was not a collector. I remember seeing a Karl Meyer cue that we bought and sold. Pete Tascarella told me about Fedunka and thought a cue I had at one time, that was represented as a bushka was really a Fedunka. Thanks for posting, brought back memories!
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Thats great. I to grew up in NJ, and got my first taste of pool in Northern NJ. I worked Midland Park, Rizzutos, for 3-4 years and worked some at Miami's in Paterson helping my uncle.

I met Mike once when I was very young. My uncle actually traded him his Szamboti for a Joss, then was lucky enough to get it back a week later. He never let the Szam out of his site. My uncle knew Fedunka very well and my first cue growing up was a Fedunka sneaky pete.

JV
 
hey

Joe, I was using my Fedunka when playing in the league we joined, and just love it. thanks for all that info
 
Joe,

I just wanted to say thank you for taking the time to post the information, pictures, and links! I believe these kind of posts are what makes this section so fun to peruse!

Again, thank you!

Jason
 
To all, you're welcome. I hope Tikkler posts his Dunkin' Ferdunka in the thread. I would love to know where the butterfly conversion is.

Its amazing how many guys were fighting for the NJ / NY area piece of the cuemaking pie at that time.

JV
 
tikkler said:
heres my Fedunka...thanks again Joe......
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Man, I LOVE LOVE LOVE what he did with the ringwork on this cue! It highlights the sleeve and then with the ring above the wrap, it frames the handle section as well...very nice!!! Again, love the veneers on this cue as well!!! Thanks for posting pics!!!
 
Hey

I know this might be a little Lamo.......but just the name FEDUNKA. Is cool.

When someone asks, what kind of cue is that? A FEDUNKA
It just sounds so BADASS
 
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