I saw an ad in Craigslist for the Tampa/ Saint Petersberg area on Saturday Afternoon, day before yesterday. Anyway, I saw the post and the price of $125.00 was listed, I figured it would be a 1950 to 1960's vintage with no ivory hoppe ring and chewed up sticker if any sticker at all and a spaghetti noodle of a shaft. So, I pulled up the ad and took a look at the pictures,
WOW--a 1st Gen Sticker with the Cursive curly B and Curly H in the names and a Hoppe Ivory Ring with no cracks or damage and a shaft that looked original. WOW, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago, maybe this is a belated b-day gift, or maybe it was too good to be true,
I sent an e-mail to the sender because there was no phone number. I waited for 6 hours without a message back, and then I sent him another message with my phone number and went to bed.
The next morning at 7:00 am, I heard my phone, but I was still a little sleepy from the night before, MY OSU BEAVERS had a late night game, and it ended at 2:00am, and I celebrated a little afterwards, because they won, OSU BEAVERS 6-0 First Time since 1907, 105 years ago. Anyway, they are #7 in the Nation, go BEAVS!!! Anyway this is exciting for my Alumni Team also. Anyway, sorry for the diversion, back to the CUE!
I woke up about 1 hour later and got a cup of coffee and I called him but no answer, I told myself, CRAP!! Hopefully he didnt have like 15 messages yesterday and he is anwering them this morning and this 1 hour delay just cost me a chance of a lifetime, so, I got another cup of coffee and waited.
About an hour later I got a call and it was the seller, he told me the story that he was a POOR college student that lives downtown in ST. Pete Florida and that he had this cue that was given to him by his Uncle that had Passed away and he had no use for it and it was just sitting in the closet collecting dust, so he wanted to sell it.
I told him that we could meet at a pool hall and check out what he had, he stated he didnt know where and when the halls would be open, but he told me where he lived, 4th st and 9th Ave, anyway, this is very close to a well known bar and pool playing place in ST. Pete called, The Flamingo Bar, anyway, I told him that we could meet him there, they have a beautiful conditioned 4 1/2x9 foot Turn of the Century Brunswick table in the front playing area that would be perfect to check the cue out. I told him that I would meet him in 45 minutes at the FLAMINGO, anyway, off across town, 30 minutes away and I showed about 9:45, and as I got out of my car, here is Scott pulling right behind me.
I got out and we went to the door and CLOSED, a sunday bar not open for SUNDAY BLOODY MARYS, what gives, anyway, so we sat out on the front patio and I told him to give me the cue to check out.
I open the case up and a 80-90%, ALL Original, First Gen Brunswick Hoppe Professional comes out of the case, with a very minty for 70+ year old sticker shows itself to me. Then I look at the shaft, it sights straight and looks right for the cue. The Leather wrap is very nice and the Rosewood is just as it should be, the points are withint 1/16" from highest to lowest from being symetrical and the 4 veneers are crisp, flat and true. What else could I ask for from a 1940-1945 First Gen Hoppe Professional??
The Price??--$125.00---A steal a pure steal.
I will try to put in better pictures later, but you get the idea.
Anyway, it gets better, I was pretty broke, but couldnt let this pass me by. I talked to him for about 15 minutes and he told me about his uncle, I told him a little about myself and my grandfather that got me into playing pool at 5 years old. Anyway, I told him that I would have to go to a local Amscot if you wanted the $125.00, I didnt have that much on me. He told me I know how times are and he told me he is in college and was selling the cue since it was getting no use from him and he wanted to take his girlfriend out for breakfast on Sunday, so I told him about, SKYWAY JACKS, which has awesome breakfast and you can get a breakfast one of 5 for, $2.69, and all you are required to do is buy a drink. These are half a egg and a piece of toast, this is a full breakfast large enough for a lumberman, and all the food is quality.
Anyway, he told me to check and see what I had on me, in the way of money, I pulled out a group of papers and some bills that were all wadded up, and on the top was a Twenty and a Five, so, he looked at my hand of wadded up bills and said, THATS PLENTY, give me what you got and well call it good!!! WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I said, are you sure, I can go to the Amscot and get what you are asking, the price you want is a GIFT, I told him. No, its not necessary, he told me. Just give me what you got and well call it good, just make sure the cue gets used and appreciated, its what my Unlce would have wanted.
I told him that I am already appreciating the cue and also your very generous offer. So, I gave him what I had, I picked out all the pieces of paper and other documents I had and I said, THANKS AGAIN.
With a nod and a smile, we both went our own ways and I proceeded to drive across town to my house.
Got home and got the cue out again and started to really look it over and I smiled a little more each passing minute. This is a real 'GEM' and a the start to a great, "SUNDAY",
My Beavers Won, Its 80 degreee at 11pm in the morning in Florida, I have my health back and I just hit the Cue Lottery and I have my Family around and they are all in good health!!!
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY BUT, TODAY IS A GOOD GOOD DAY, as ice cube would say.
LUCK OF THE IRISH and all that.
Anyway, I thought I would pass this around and let others know that with all the trauma and fraudulent items that are come-by 'CRAIGSLIST', I will give this craigslist experience, 2-thumbs up!!
I will try to post some better pictures when I get to my shop and am able to use my camers, this cue is worth taking a look at, especially for 70 years old. I can only wish that I am anywhere near this good of shape when I hit the age that this cue is.
Respectfully
Mike 'acedonkeyace' Kennedy
WOW--a 1st Gen Sticker with the Cursive curly B and Curly H in the names and a Hoppe Ivory Ring with no cracks or damage and a shaft that looked original. WOW, my birthday was a couple of weeks ago, maybe this is a belated b-day gift, or maybe it was too good to be true,
I sent an e-mail to the sender because there was no phone number. I waited for 6 hours without a message back, and then I sent him another message with my phone number and went to bed.
The next morning at 7:00 am, I heard my phone, but I was still a little sleepy from the night before, MY OSU BEAVERS had a late night game, and it ended at 2:00am, and I celebrated a little afterwards, because they won, OSU BEAVERS 6-0 First Time since 1907, 105 years ago. Anyway, they are #7 in the Nation, go BEAVS!!! Anyway this is exciting for my Alumni Team also. Anyway, sorry for the diversion, back to the CUE!
I woke up about 1 hour later and got a cup of coffee and I called him but no answer, I told myself, CRAP!! Hopefully he didnt have like 15 messages yesterday and he is anwering them this morning and this 1 hour delay just cost me a chance of a lifetime, so, I got another cup of coffee and waited.
About an hour later I got a call and it was the seller, he told me the story that he was a POOR college student that lives downtown in ST. Pete Florida and that he had this cue that was given to him by his Uncle that had Passed away and he had no use for it and it was just sitting in the closet collecting dust, so he wanted to sell it.
I told him that we could meet at a pool hall and check out what he had, he stated he didnt know where and when the halls would be open, but he told me where he lived, 4th st and 9th Ave, anyway, this is very close to a well known bar and pool playing place in ST. Pete called, The Flamingo Bar, anyway, I told him that we could meet him there, they have a beautiful conditioned 4 1/2x9 foot Turn of the Century Brunswick table in the front playing area that would be perfect to check the cue out. I told him that I would meet him in 45 minutes at the FLAMINGO, anyway, off across town, 30 minutes away and I showed about 9:45, and as I got out of my car, here is Scott pulling right behind me.
I got out and we went to the door and CLOSED, a sunday bar not open for SUNDAY BLOODY MARYS, what gives, anyway, so we sat out on the front patio and I told him to give me the cue to check out.
I open the case up and a 80-90%, ALL Original, First Gen Brunswick Hoppe Professional comes out of the case, with a very minty for 70+ year old sticker shows itself to me. Then I look at the shaft, it sights straight and looks right for the cue. The Leather wrap is very nice and the Rosewood is just as it should be, the points are withint 1/16" from highest to lowest from being symetrical and the 4 veneers are crisp, flat and true. What else could I ask for from a 1940-1945 First Gen Hoppe Professional??
The Price??--$125.00---A steal a pure steal.
I will try to put in better pictures later, but you get the idea.
Anyway, it gets better, I was pretty broke, but couldnt let this pass me by. I talked to him for about 15 minutes and he told me about his uncle, I told him a little about myself and my grandfather that got me into playing pool at 5 years old. Anyway, I told him that I would have to go to a local Amscot if you wanted the $125.00, I didnt have that much on me. He told me I know how times are and he told me he is in college and was selling the cue since it was getting no use from him and he wanted to take his girlfriend out for breakfast on Sunday, so I told him about, SKYWAY JACKS, which has awesome breakfast and you can get a breakfast one of 5 for, $2.69, and all you are required to do is buy a drink. These are half a egg and a piece of toast, this is a full breakfast large enough for a lumberman, and all the food is quality.
Anyway, he told me to check and see what I had on me, in the way of money, I pulled out a group of papers and some bills that were all wadded up, and on the top was a Twenty and a Five, so, he looked at my hand of wadded up bills and said, THATS PLENTY, give me what you got and well call it good!!! WOW, WOW, WOW!!! I said, are you sure, I can go to the Amscot and get what you are asking, the price you want is a GIFT, I told him. No, its not necessary, he told me. Just give me what you got and well call it good, just make sure the cue gets used and appreciated, its what my Unlce would have wanted.
I told him that I am already appreciating the cue and also your very generous offer. So, I gave him what I had, I picked out all the pieces of paper and other documents I had and I said, THANKS AGAIN.
With a nod and a smile, we both went our own ways and I proceeded to drive across town to my house.
Got home and got the cue out again and started to really look it over and I smiled a little more each passing minute. This is a real 'GEM' and a the start to a great, "SUNDAY",
My Beavers Won, Its 80 degreee at 11pm in the morning in Florida, I have my health back and I just hit the Cue Lottery and I have my Family around and they are all in good health!!!
WHAT ELSE CAN I SAY BUT, TODAY IS A GOOD GOOD DAY, as ice cube would say.
LUCK OF THE IRISH and all that.
Anyway, I thought I would pass this around and let others know that with all the trauma and fraudulent items that are come-by 'CRAIGSLIST', I will give this craigslist experience, 2-thumbs up!!
I will try to post some better pictures when I get to my shop and am able to use my camers, this cue is worth taking a look at, especially for 70 years old. I can only wish that I am anywhere near this good of shape when I hit the age that this cue is.
Respectfully
Mike 'acedonkeyace' Kennedy
