National Pool Cue Valuation

Jfred

Jfred

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Guys,

My sister-in-law is in the process of settling her father's estate and she came across this cue in his belongings.

Brand: National
Length: 57 inches
Weight: 20.5 ounces.

Cue seems to be in very good shape.
Finish is good - no nicks or dents - no noticeable warping.
Wrap seems to be Irish linen - also in good shape.

She's looking for a "guesstimate" on the value of the cue.
I have my guess on what to tell her but I'd really like your opinions.

Thanks,
Jim


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Value of a 1970s National Pool Cue

Value of a 1970s National Pool Cue
www.billiardsforum.com



National pool cues were made by folks who went on to be some of the BIGGEST cue makers in the world...

  • Dan Janes,
  • Bob Meucci, and
  • Richard Helmstetter
...are just a few who started at National.
 
HawaiianEye said:
National pool cues were made by folks who went on to be some of the BIGGEST cue makers in the world...

  • Dan Janes,
  • Bob Meucci, and
  • Richard Helmstetter
...are just a few who started at National.
Click to expand...
But is the OP's cue one of the good ones, the Chicago ones? You've got a sweet one if I remember right.
 
gcmortal said:
But is the OP's cue one of the good ones, the Chicago ones? You've got a sweet one if I remember right.
Click to expand...
Danny Janes started JOSS Cues with Bill Stroud in MD in 1968. Don't think he ever worked at all for National. National also started about the same time.
WP
 
gcmortal said:
But is the OP's cue one of the good ones, the Chicago ones? You've got a sweet one if I remember right.
Click to expand...
I have no idea.

There were several cue companies using that name.

National cues

Can anyone give me or direct me to information regarding National brand cues?
forums.azbilliards.com

I don’t have a National.

I have an A.E. Schmidt built by Lloyd Bennett.

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Last edited:
gcmortal said:
But is the OP's cue one of the good ones, the Chicago ones? You've got a sweet one if I remember right.
Click to expand...
The cues with 'NATIONAL' engraved in the plastic buttcap are Chicago cues. I had one yrs ago and that's what Meucci told me. After '69 they were all cheap imports. OP's cue is in like-new shape. Just a wag but i'd say 200bux, maybe 300 to the right guy. Cool old cue.
 
Depends on the ''hit''....if it rolls straight, and if it cks out.

I'd also look closely at the black rings to see if they are still glued or loose.

After a ck out, a price will surface.
 
Thanks guys. To answer Island Drive:

Rolls straight (to my surprise)
Hits well - no pings
Checked the rings - still glued and in place.
No signs of the wrap starting to unravel.
All inlays in place - not raised or "loose"
13 mm shaft - ferrule is flush to the shaft

Thanks for the help.

Jim
 
garczar said:
No. Chicago cue.
Click to expand...

From the link I put in , there is a quote there that they were making cues from there but then were importing cheaper built cues. From the ringwork and design look, I would say this particular one was one of those cheaper imports. Those rings to me are almost a sure sign of a cheaper built import cue. The (see images) has a picture of that National logo and a very similar looking cue design which would be saying that is an example of the "poor quality imports". I still think it's an under $200 cue.

"The first are the cues from "National Billiards Company" of Cincinnati, OH. As far as I know these are not related to the cues from the "National Chalk Company" of Chicago (and later, Gerogia). They made quality queues in the beginning but then brought in some poor quality imports (see images)."

National cue.JPG
 
hang-the-9 said:
From the link I put in , there is a quote there that they were making cues from there but then were importing cheaper built cues. From the ringwork and design look, I would say this particular one was one of those cheaper imports. Those rings to me are almost a sure sign of a cheaper built import cue. The (see images) has a picture of that National logo and a very similar looking cue design which would be saying that is an example of the "poor quality imports". I still think it's an under $200 cue.

"The first are the cues from "National Billiards Company" of Cincinnati, OH. As far as I know these are not related to the cues from the "National Chalk Company" of Chicago (and later, Gerogia). They made quality queues in the beginning but then brought in some poor quality imports (see images)."

View attachment 592290
Click to expand...
The low-quality cues that article is referring to is the one further down with the sticker. Those are trash. Read that article again. Its says that cues with 'NATIONAL' in the buttcap are considered Gen1 and were made by Meucci, Helmstetter,etc. That's what Bob himself told me yrs ago.
 
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