Old vs. New

[xntriq]

I love old things and I love pool. So my pool room is mostly antique or close to it. My table is a 1928 9' Brunswick Balke Collender recovered in Simonis 860, serviced, and I think plays well. I have a nice set of standard Aramith balls that I plan on upgrading in a few years when I hit a milestone birthday. I use early 20th century one-piece cues with my main cue being an old fish pole. When I am having a bad night, I sometimes even chalk up with a little Spinks just so I can be the last guy on the planet to have done so - for at least a little while.

So, how much am I missing out on? I recognize that there is a huge difference between new and old balls. Are the antique tables and cues also massively inferior to new stuff? Is there any harm in playing the old cues? Is it a sacrilege to chalk up with the cube of Spinks? Are these new cues art, performance tools, or both? Do people actually play these beautiful cues, or are they relegated to shelves as investments?

I am genuinely curious.

 

[Cuebuddy]

Use the chalk. It is probably inferior to modern chalk.
Antique tables are cool but they will play noticeably different than competition tables of today.
Of course the vintage tables can be modernized to a point and should play fine.
I think the modern balls will be a major upgrade.
I play with many antique pool cues and these cues will pot balls but if I am playing to win I will leave them on the wall.
The best playing vintage cues seem to be my one piece cues. I am referring to cues from the 30's through the 50's.

 

[book collector]

I love the old stuff too. I used to play with a guy that played every day with Hubert Cokes old Balabushka. He was the only one I ever saw playing regularly with a rare old cue. I am sure there are a few eccentrics out there but not that many.

 

[Biloxi Boy]

A good amount. Yes. No. No. Both. Yes on both.

There's nothing like the new cues. I love the old cues, but I prefer playing with a Scruggs, but everyone has their own favorite.

 

[VarmintKong]

I use early 20th century one-piece cues with my main cue being an old fish pole.

I am genuinely curious.

As am I and would very much like to see a picture of this stick.

Will it match the picture in my head?

A 12 ft cane pole hovers over a pocket.

A stout snap upwards and the hook is set.

As the rod rises to its bend, suckers come flopping out of holes like salmon running an upstream rapid.

 

[Chopdoc]

I use early 20th century one-piece cues with my main cue being an old fish pole. When I am having a bad night, I sometimes even chalk up with a little

First, welcome to the forum.

Second, pictures or it didn't happen.

Third, I don't have a room. Currently house shopping and planning for one. I will have an antique table, but not terribly old. Maybe a Centennial.

Fourth, I have been known to take some of my early 20th century antique cues to the local pool hall to play, including antique masse cue. I have even played in a local 9 ball tournament with one. In addition I have numerous cues from the 50's, 60's, and 70's that I occasionally use, and a few into the 80's, and a couple in the 90's. I do play any of my cues. Currently I have only one cue that needs restored and is not playable.

Yes, I have "modern" cues and a few customs too.

Rieper, Brunswick, Oliver Briggs, Katz, J E Came, Luscher, and more. I play them all occasionally. Here are some random examples.

 

[Cuebuddy]

First, welcome to the forum.

Second, pictures or it didn't happen.

Third, I don't have a room. Currently house shopping and planning for one. I will have an antique table, but not terribly old. Maybe a Centennial.

Fourth, I have been known to take some of my early 20th century antique cues to the local pool hall to play, including antique masse cue. I have even played in a local 9 ball tournament with one. In addition I have numerous cues from the 50's, 60's, and 70's that I occasionally use, and a few into the 80's, and a couple in the 90's. I do play any of my cues. Currently I have only one cue that needs restored and is not playable.

Yes, I have "modern" cues and a few customs too.

Rieper, Brunswick, Oliver Briggs, Katz, J E Came, Luscher, and more. I play them all occasionally. Here are some random examples.

View attachment 812118

View attachment 812119

View attachment 812120

View attachment 812121

Stunning group. Thanks for the pictures. Do you think the cue with the odd grip is original or altered?

 

[Chopdoc]

Stunning group. Thanks for the pictures. Do you think the cue with the odd grip is original or altered?

You mean the one at the top? With the wrap that looks like some kind of heavy cord? I honestly don't know. If it was added, it was done a very long time ago, and nicely done. I thought about putting something more correct on it, but it has character and will stay on the cue. I don't have the heart to change it. It has been impregnated with some kind of old finish. It isn't finished over though. More like it absorbed the finish. And it has yellowed with age. It's actually really cool, and feels just fine.

I have been looking for years for some of that old variegated wrap material that was used on some of those old cues and have never seen any. Nobody that I have talked to seems to know anything about it, like what it is, so I don't really know how to look for it other than to spot it by looks. I think people ignored it after it fell out of fashion so the knowledge was lost. I don't need any, but would love to have a spool or two of it. Maybe I would need it if I find a good cue that needs it. I feel like someone probably knows though.

I haven't found any info on that masse cue either. It's an interesting thing. Definitely considerably old. "Custom". And it can spin a ball like a monster. I don't have the dimensions and weight in my records, but it's a beast. I have a nice Jacoby masse cue, but this antique easily outdoes that cue. Grabbed it for $35 on eBay years ago. I will be astounded if anybody know anything about it.

 

[sciarco]

I play snooker with this Dufferin green leaf cue straight 11mm tip,i don't wanna convert it like the way it is gotta be at least 40 yrs old i think.

 

[Cuebuddy]

You mean the one at the top? With the wrap that looks like some kind of heavy cord? I honestly don't know. If it was added, it was done a very long time ago, and nicely done. I thought about putting something more correct on it, but it has character and will stay on the cue. I don't have the heart to change it. It has been impregnated with some kind of old finish. It isn't finished over though. More like it absorbed the finish. And it has yellowed with age. It's actually really cool, and feels just fine.

I have been looking for years for some of that old variegated wrap material that was used on some of those old cues and have never seen any. Nobody that I have talked to seems to know anything about it, like what it is, so I don't really know how to look for it other than to spot it by looks. I think people ignored it after it fell out of fashion so the knowledge was lost. I don't need any, but would love to have a spool or two of it. Maybe I would need it if I find a good cue that needs it. I feel like someone probably knows though.

I haven't found any info on that masse cue either. It's an interesting thing. Definitely considerably old. "Custom". And it can spin a ball like a monster. I don't have the dimensions and weight in my records, but it's a beast. I have a nice Jacoby masse cue, but this antique easily outdoes that cue. Grabbed it for $35 on eBay years ago. I will be astounded if anybody know anything about it.

View attachment 812138

View attachment 812139

View attachment 812140

I feel ya. I alter very few of my vintage cues and when I do I am very careful.
I have cues that have lost the tenon that supports the ferrule. Cues that have no tips and cues with loose wraps that have been taped, I like them just how I found them.

I have one cue from around 1890 and the wrap had started to un-ravel, someone mended it with masking tape. It was done so long ago the tape and fishing line has fused together, and it looks badass.

Masking tape was invented in the mid 1920's.

 

[Cuebuddy]

I play snooker with this Dufferin really nice cue straight 11mm tip,i don't wanna convert it like the way it is gotta be at least 40 yrs old i think.View attachment 812141View attachment 812142View attachment 812143

That's a sweetheart. I would not cut it either. There are way too many one piece Duffs out there that are convertible. I have about a dozen one piece Dufferins that I will convert once I retire.

I have two green leaf cues that have outstanding Maple in the forearm that would be awesome to customize but I cant do it to them.

 

[billiards_watch]

Anyone able to runout with these old vintage cues?

 

[Chopdoc]

I play snooker with this Dufferin really nice cue straight 11mm tip,i don't wanna convert it like the way it is gotta be at least 40 yrs old i think.

Very cool!

Between Dufferin and Brunswick of Canada, there are a lot of cool snooker cues from Canada that are nothing like those from the UK.

In my entire collection, I think I have only one Dufferin, a one piece house cue. A guy tossed it in with a Joss to seal a sale. I would love to have an ebony Dufferin sneaky with the 5/16x14 piloted joint. They exist with that joint and are very hard to find.

This is my Brunswick of Canada Tru-Skill snooker cue. Brunswick of Canada went out of business in 1971, which boosted the Dufferin brand.

1971 Montreal Gazette

 

[Cuebuddy]

Anyone able to runout with these old vintage cues?

I have run a rack of 9 ball with every one of my Hoppe cues, more than once. Some cues may take me hours to get the job done. One in particular I remember well. I received it and ran a rack the first attempt. This is the thread of when I got it.

Thanks for your service

A quick story about my latest Hoppe. I recently won a Willie Hoppe cue on Ebay, the seller had it priced a little low stating that it was warped. It also had the signature of the owner of the cue written in ink just below Willie Hoppe's name on...

forums.azbilliards.com

 

[Chopdoc]

Anyone able to runout with these old vintage cues?

Odd question.

In the 9 ball tournament I entered with the antique cue, I ran out my first and third racks on a 9 foot Gold Crown.

Why? Does it matter?

 

[Mensabum]

Go

A good amount. Yes. No. No. Both. Yes on both.

There's nothing like the new cues. I love the old cues, but I prefer playing with a Scruggs, but everyone has their own favorite.

Got my vote!!!

 

[Mensabum]

Anyone able to runout with these old vintage cues?

Just tell me what room they're in and leave the back door open.

 

[Zerksies]

The old stuff is cool, but who's playing with 30 year old golf clubs too.

 

[sciarco]

Nice cue gotta love the old stuff.

 

[sciarco]

The green leaf Dufferin is around 17oz when i first looked at it i had to buy it it's straight as an arrow . (excellent condition well looked after)