My first advice to the owner was in fact "don't sell it". :smile:
That's a "keeper".
If I could buy it...and I would if I found the money...I would keep it for sure.
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Pre-1975, Pre-Production, Very Fancy McDermott Cue
- Thread starter Chopdoc
- Start date
My first advice to the owner was in fact "don't sell it". :smile:
That's a "keeper".
If I could buy it...and I would if I found the money...I would keep it for sure.
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I agree. It screams Viking to me with that design. So much like the Viking cues from the 70's and early 80's.
david holstead
Registered
I am very convinced that is a Viking cue. It appears to have the "super joint" that Viking claimed was unique to its cues. Also, the joint breaks down in two sections, which was common to many Vikings back then but, to my knowledge, not McDermotts. Finally and perhaps common to WICO blanks, that cue only has 3 points. I had a 1978 Viking. When I examined it closely and realized it only had 3 points, I decided I didn't like it as much (I was just graduating from high school). Thus, I sold it for $90 along with a Palmer Custom Case and bought a very early 4 ebony pointed, maple window cue from Tim Scruggs which I still have and play with to this day.
It is definitely NOT a Superjoint. The Superjoint is a dual threaded joint:
And this is the cue in question:
Additionally, Vinking is definitely NOT the only maker to produce cues with stainless rings on the shaft.
Lastly, the cue has four points and four veneers. It's not a three point cue.
If you have any other WICO three point 1970's Vikings for $90 I am your customer....especially with the Palmer case. Seriously. No doubt. For sure. :thumbup: I will buy every one you have in decent shape at that price.
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david holstead
Registered
Chopdoc, I concur with your sentiments. That cue is awesome, but it resembles a Viking much more than it does a McDermott, in my opinion. It looks like something Gordon dreamed up in his basement in Madison. Also, boy o boy do I wish I still had the 3 pointed Viking and the Palmer deluxe case that housed it. That cue was 21 oz. and felt like a club, but it was beautiful. Believe it or not, Greg "Big Train" Stevens actually hit with it at his Family Game Room on Pawnee Street in Wichita in 1978.
Palmer, Viking, Bushka, McD and probably a few other cue makers used marblite shower rods back then because they looked cool, I have a Gus with a MONSTER piece of white marblite shower rod, Barry has the rest of the length Gus bought and used on one cue-its in my vault. My point is its cool looking stuff and cue makers were experimenting with it and copying each other as they still do today-to a extent(which is ok with me).
So with all that in mind it most likely is a McD cause of the provenance, now with out the proper correct supporting paperwork, who knows what it could be? could one of 5 or 6 cue makers or a one-hit-wonder.
my 5 cents or today
still a kick ass cue
So with all that in mind it most likely is a McD cause of the provenance, now with out the proper correct supporting paperwork, who knows what it could be? could one of 5 or 6 cue makers or a one-hit-wonder.
my 5 cents or today
still a kick ass cue
I agree, it does indeed, and I told this to the owner when we first communicated about the cue.
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I agree. Documentation would really make this cue more "solid".
The look or style of the time is there. This cue is a spectacular representation of the genre and era I think. It has so many period specific elements that come together with a really surprising maker I think...and a prominent maker that was on the verge of something great at that time. Obviously he was already skilled and accomplished as this cue is clearly representative of a high level of work.
As gaudy as cues like this can be this one pulls it off with a great deal of style I think. It's downright attractive. In some ways I think this could be the ultimate McDermott.
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Chopdoc,
Thanks for the pictures of this very unique McD.....
Great overall look, nice original cue...And yes, WICO.......
Highly collectible in the right collection.....
Understandably desired by many....
I agree with Fatboy, way overpriced, $3k is a lot closer to a real figure, and then to only the real collector of this type of cue.......again, unique and VERY high on the cool factor scale...
I have "enjoyed" this cue from a distance, like you, for quite a while.....
Although I have no interest in acquiring, I Certainly see the collectibility of this cue...
Provenance would be a nice adder.......
Sorry for rambling on, the cue finally "brought me out"......
Thanks again,
Will Prout
Thanks for the pictures of this very unique McD.....
Great overall look, nice original cue...And yes, WICO.......
Highly collectible in the right collection.....
Understandably desired by many....
I agree with Fatboy, way overpriced, $3k is a lot closer to a real figure, and then to only the real collector of this type of cue.......again, unique and VERY high on the cool factor scale...
I have "enjoyed" this cue from a distance, like you, for quite a while.....
Although I have no interest in acquiring, I Certainly see the collectibility of this cue...
Provenance would be a nice adder.......
Sorry for rambling on, the cue finally "brought me out"......
Thanks again,
Will Prout
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This cue is now for sale again, and it looks like there may be verification from McDermott to follow.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/283139337963?ViewItem=&item=283139337963
I communicated extesnively with the son of the original owner, who was a neighbor of McDermott and said he was there when the cue was purchased.
This cue continues to fascinate me.
It is the third time I am aware of that the cue has hit the open market.
Thoughts?
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https://www.ebay.com/itm/283139337963?ViewItem=&item=283139337963
I communicated extesnively with the son of the original owner, who was a neighbor of McDermott and said he was there when the cue was purchased.
This cue continues to fascinate me.
It is the third time I am aware of that the cue has hit the open market.
Thoughts?
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Most likely the shaft was cut into a tenon at the top of the top ring, then a shaft was glued onto the tenon. so the old joint face should still be the same. I probably have pics of this cue from five years ago or whenever it first surfaced to compare to the current ones. I made an offer on it back then, but with the cue market what it is I'm not sure I would make the same offer today, If I do, I want the case too.
I am pretty sure have pictures from before and the joint face did not look like that. I think I would remember that. I'll see if I can find them too.
If you look at that replacement shaft there is a lot of grain runoff. I don't think it was attended to properly. It should have been better wood and that joint face should not be like that. I do think it hurts the value a bit.
And...it seems I have the case, or the twin anyway. I do wonder if it might be the exact same case. New condition, even smells new. :smile:
https://forums.azbilliards.com/showthread.php?t=452026
I agree on the value. Certainly documentation from McDermott would help, and if a letter from the original owner's son can be obtained for provenance that would help too. But I don't think the cue carries the value that some would hope.
The original owner's son worked hard to sell it for as much as he can get.
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what is weird about this one is, if memory is correct. the one i seen for sale years ago, did in fact have all the paper work from mcdermott stating it was one of jim's cues.
It did't. I believe all he had was an email from McDermott saying it might be a McDermott, that they believe it is, but that he should send it in for documentation. He was reluctant to send it.
I recently scanned over my old conversations with the owner.
I first communicated with him in 2013 about this cue, about a year before Jim McDermott died. I strongly encouraged him to get it documented at that time. Jim McDermott died in February 2014.
His word and documentation would have been best, of course. AFAIK there is nobody at McDermott to verify the cue by having seen it originally, knowing that Jim McD made it.
There were people at the time that thought it was actually a Viking as it obviously used Viking parts.
The original listing is no longer available on Ebay and I didn't save it, or at least I can't find it. It might be on my old drive. I have a folder on my PC for this cue and have many pictures of it going back to 2013. But I did save a later listing of the cue which is the second time it hit the market. And I do have all the emails. I also spoke to him a number of times on the phone.
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McDermott should acquire the cue, and museum that thing.
I think if I were them I would certainly want to.
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