Question for Those Who Know Their Rambows

[pdcue]

From my experience, rambow cue leather wraps are pretty tight, generally speaking. But I can't say for sure if he altered every one he touched. There could be stock wraps out there with his name on it.

As for the points, its the same situation. I've seen some that were perfect, I've seen some that would really make you wonder. Turning them down is not a guarantee that the points will even up, although I do believe it would be only be natural to choose good blanks or good finished titlests to begin with.

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Originally Posted by takeitdown View Post
Ive read that the gentleman who did the scrolled signatures on the forearms did them on many non-Rambo cues that left the factory. Certainly many Rambo cues were never touched by him. If not signed, By Rambo, I woukd have my doubts.
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Why would a factory cue have a scrolled signature? Not sure I'm understanding this claim
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Thanks Bond.

I was also puzzled by takeitdowns post, but if you assume he used a grammatical
head-fake and actually ment someone else did the WRAPS, rather than the sigs,
it at least makes sense - though I question the info.

Dale

 

[cuesblues]

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Originally Posted by takeitdown View Post
Ive read that the gentleman who did the scrolled signatures on the forearms did them on many non-Rambo cues that left the factory. Certainly many Rambo cues were never touched by him. If not signed, By Rambo, I woukd have my doubts.
..............................................................................................................

Why would a factory cue have a scrolled signature? Not sure I'm understanding this claim
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Bond.

I was also puzzled by takeitdowns post, but if you assume he used a grammatical
head-fake and actually ment someone else did the WRAPS, rather than the sigs,
it at least makes sense - though I question the info.

Dale

I think the confusion comes with the fact that Rambow worked for Brunswick for 25-years and made his own cues (some signed, some not) while running the entire cue shop,
There is not a lot information out there on Herman Rambow, but I've read everything I could find, including the documents Mr. Bond has posted.
Mr. Bond has info that you can't get anywhere else, but it doesn't get into the actual cue building operation.
Every once and a while someone here will post an "unknown" cue that is obviously a Rambow, but there isn't a lot of danger buying a Rambow, like there is with a Balabushka for instance.
A Herman Rambow cue will never be as valuable as a Balabushka, and you don't hear about fake Rambows on the secondary market...it's not apples to apples.
I don't see too many people out there trying to buy up Rambow cues.
If a Rambow is for sale, most of the people interested typically know what they are looking at, or know people like Paul Rubino, Joel Hercek, or Deano Andrews.

 

[TATE]

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Originally Posted by takeitdown View Post
Ive read that the gentleman who did the scrolled signatures on the forearms did them on many non-Rambo cues that left the factory. Certainly many Rambo cues were never touched by him. If not signed, By Rambo, I woukd have my doubts.
..............................................................................................................

Why would a factory cue have a scrolled signature? Not sure I'm understanding this claim
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks Bond.

I was also puzzled by takeitdowns post, but if you assume he used a grammatical
head-fake and actually ment someone else did the WRAPS, rather than the sigs,
it at least makes sense - though I question the info.

Dale

Dale,

Rambow did much of his own calligraphy but there was a professional calligrapher, who I believe was in Chicago, who did them as well. I don't recall the gentleman's name now, but over the years I've seen other examples of his work, not necessarily on cues either.

The really fancy inscriptions are from this other guy. Deno Andrews knows his name. Rambow was good at inscribing but not a pro - you can see the difference.

As far as collectability, he was basically the "da man".

Chris

 

[kvinbrwr]

Dale,

Rambow did much of his own calligraphy but there was a professional calligrapher, who I believe was in Chicago, who did them as well. I don't recall the gentleman's name now, but over the years I've seen other examples of his work, not necessarily on cues either.

The really fancy inscriptions are from this other guy. Deno Andrews knows his name. Rambow was good at inscribing but not a pro - you can see the difference.

As far as collectability, he was basically the "da man".

Chris

Chris

Charles Kimmel

Kevin

 

[Mr. Bond]

Dale,

Rambow did much of his own calligraphy but there was a professional calligrapher, who I believe was in Chicago, who did them as well. I don't recall the gentleman's name now, but over the years I've seen other examples of his work, not necessarily on cues either.

The really fancy inscriptions are from this other guy. Deno Andrews knows his name. Rambow was good at inscribing but not a pro - you can see the difference.

As far as collectability, he was basically the "da man".

Chris

Charlie Kimmel.
He got his start as a golf scoreboard writer because of his penmanship.
Was also a fairly good pool player, and buddies with both rambow and mosconi.
In addition to his golf score and cue work he also did calligraphy work on paper, for things like wedding invitations and the like.

 

[Mr. Bond]

I think the confusion comes with the fact that Rambow worked for Brunswick for 25-years and made his own cues (some signed, some not) while running the entire cue shop...

It was closer to 50 years, granted he wasn't making cues at first.
Some of the confusion also stems from the fact that Steve Bihun continued to produce Rambow brand cues after Rambows death. There are many Bihun cues out there that are presumed to be Rambows. I handled one with an exquisite leather wrap but the points were nearly and inch off and the whole butt was fatter than than any rambow I've ever seen.

 

[cuesblues]

It was closer to 50 years, granted he wasn't making cues at first.
Some of the confusion also stems from the fact that Steve Bihun continued to produce Rambow brand cues after Rambows death. There are many Bihun cues out there that are presumed to be Rambows. I handled one with an exquisite leather wrap but the points were nearly and inch off and the whole butt was fatter than than any rambow I've ever seen.

You made me look in the first Blue Book><:smile:
It's been over 10-years since I've read this stuff.

He started working in the Brunswick shop at age 14 / 1894, and left in 1921 when he started Superior Cue Co.
He was awarded the patent for his "Hub Cue" design, in 1925 he signed the rights over to Brunswick, and by 1927 he was running the entire cue shop.
In 1950 he was forced to retire, and opened us his last shop, I think in the basement of Keef & Hamer Co.

 

[BBC]

Rambow

Interesting discussion about Rambow cues...

Having several Rambow's, from unsigned to fancy inlayed, we have to remember Rambow's were hand made on a basic wood turning lathe and to end up with perfect points had to be challenge, ask any of todays top cue maker, visit Paul Rubino's site an you will see Rambow's lathe, how did he do it!

I have a rare Brunswick Cue Catalog telling the history and how a Brunswick cue is made, it boasts the perfection of a Brunswick cue, use of premium selected woods, hand finishing and polishing every cue with craftsmanship second to none.

In the middle of the book there is a two page spread showing Rambow at his lathe and his associates making and finishing cues on wood turning lathes, one could only imagine they had a master cue butt and shaft, made and gaged the turning of a cue with basic calipers.

The Steve Bihun cue that Mr. Bond spoke of is different than any of my Rambow's besides being signed by Steven Bihun.

The noticeable difference between a Rambow and the Bihun cue is the joint, it's fatter, the butt is smaller in diameter and is not interchangeable with any of my Rambow's, it hits solid!

The big question is, who influenced Bihun to change Rambow's specifications, how many Bihun style cues are out there?

The story and mystery of the Rambow will always continue...

Joe