Rambow on Ebay

[Jeff]

Looks like a nice one. Says the butt has been replaced but it is a one owner cue?

http://cgi.ebay.com/1965-Hand-Crafted-Rambow-Pool-Cue-w-12-13-MM-shafts_W0QQitemZ7218119691QQ

 

[titlistsucker]

The price is good, but i think the refinished buttcap is putting people off the cue..
And also, the signature on the forearm doesnt seem to be written by Rambow, judging from Rambows i used to own..

Bgrds
Raist

 

[Jeff]

The price is good, but i think the refinished buttcap is putting people off the cue..
And also, the signature on the forearm doesnt seem to be written by Rambow, judging from Rambows i used to own..

Bgrds
Raist

I certainly don't know enough about them to know. Would hate for someone to miss out if it was a good one.

 

[nick serdula]

Good eye Raist

A few things just seem unusual with this cue like the signature being a little bit to crisp and less ornate than usual also the lettering seems slimmer than usual and the signatture is not repeated on the shafts and seems more inked than burned into the wood also the shafts do not seem to match each other. And the butt cap is a signature item on most of Rambo's cues and it is missing or replaced so to speak. You caught it Raist!

 

[TATE]

A few things just seem unusual with this cue like the signature being a little bit to crisp and less ornate than usual also the lettering seems slimmer than usual and the signature is not repeated on the shafts and seems more inked than burned into the wood also the shafts do not seem to match each other. And the butt cap is a signature item on most of Rambo's cues and it is missing or replaced so to speak. You caught it Raist!

The original signatures were actually just done in pencil by Rambow. I had read where he also had an assistant that did some similar lettering.

If this cue were a Rambow, which is possible, I think this cue was altered to the point where it is no longer collectible as a "Rambow". The non-original butt cap is a big deal. The one on this cue isn't even like Rambow's, which were more rounded. The signature I think has been "gone over" in an amateur refinish job. It looks terrible. A lot of Rambow inscriptions were lost due to flaking of the finish coat and just rubbing off. This reduces the value a lot.

A Rambow signature is part of the history. Once the signature is gone, the value as a Rambow is history too.

Chris

 

[titlistsucker]

Yeah, while not all shafts are signed, if they are, the shafts bear the initials of the owner.

The signature on the forearm were normally signed in pencil. And many had that cursive script style reminiscient of an earlier era which makes the Rambow so pretty.

i read about it in the billiard encyclopedia. but i never seen the cues that were purportly signed by Rambow's apprentice. would this cue bear that signature?

i think Hercek did a better job with the previous rambow on ebay, that deno bought ...

Bgrds
Raist

 

[TATE]

Yeah, while not all shafts are signed, if they are, the shafts bear the initials of the owner.

The signature on the forearm were normally signed in pencil. And many had that cursive script style reminiscient of an earlier era which makes the Rambow so pretty.

i read about it in the billiard encyclopedia. but i never seen the cues that were purportly signed by Rambow's apprentice. would this cue bear that signature?

i think Hercek did a better job with the previous rambow on ebay, that deno bought ...

Bgrds
Raist

I think the apprentice just copied Rambow's handwriting style and also signed the "Made by Rambow" script. Most of the cues Rambow made do not have the "Made by Rambow" line on them, just the owners name and initials.

I've seen some handwriting on real Rambows that looked a little "funny" like this. I am pretty sure this cue is a real Rambow but just one that's been done over too much.

At least if you have the owner's name, you stand a chance of tracking down the history of the cue.

Chris

 

[cueman]

This cue is a Rambow and it was sent to me to repair many years ago by Mr. Brannon. It had a broken butt cap and the wrap had come off. Believe it or not the ivory butt plate is almost identical to the original one. The screw in the end was all messed up and it took me a lot of trouble to find another screw with those two holes in it to match the original. I had to buy 50 of them to get one. I knew very little about Rambow cues at the time and just did what the owner asked me to. I darkened the owners name with a pen at his request as it was barely visable. It has a very light hand rubbed finish on it. This seemed to match the original finish. This was a very late Rambow cue as it was only made a little over a year before Rambow died. I am told he only used that two hole screw for a short time. If I had known more about how Rambow did things at the time I would have done things differently. But I was going behind another repairman and was asked to make it look as close to new looking as I could. I would agree with Tate on most of what he said except for the Butt plate not looking original. I would have definitely have been an amateur at working on Rambow's at the time. Up to that point I had only replaced tips on a few of them through the years. So the wrap being replaced and the butt plate and the signature being touched up are my doings. Not sure what I would have done different except the signature touch up though. I used the closest thing to Cortland wrap that I had and put the proper type finish on it to match what I took off of it. The Ivory butt plate was cracked completely and the replacement is very close. If I had rounded it more and put a flat head screw in it, it would have looked more like the late 50's and earlier 60's Rambows that so many have seen, but it would not have looked like that one used to.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[runscott]

This cue is a Rambow and it was sent to me to repair many years ago by Mr. Brannon. It had a broken butt cap and the wrap had come off. Believe it or not the ivory butt plate is almost identical to the original one. The screw in the end was all messed up and it took me a lot of trouble to find another screw with those two holes in it to match the original. I had to buy 50 of them to get one. I knew very little about Rambow cues at the time and just did what the owner asked me to. I darkened the owners name with a pen at his request as it was barely visable. It has a very light hand rubbed finish on it. This seemed to match the original finish. This was a very late Rambow cue as it was only made a little over a year before Rambow died. I am told he only used that two hole screw for a short time. If I had known more about how Rambow did things at the time I would have done things differently. But I was going behind another repairman and was asked to make it look as close to new looking as I could. I would agree with Tate on most of what he said except for the Butt plate not looking original. I would have definitely have been an amateur at working on Rambow's at the time. Up to that point I had only replaced tips on a few of them through the years. So the wrap being replaced and the butt plate and the signature being touched up are my doings. Not sure what I would have done different except the signature touch up though. I used the closest thing to Cortland wrap that I had and put the proper type finish on it to match what I took off of it. The Ivory butt plate was cracked completely and the replacement is very close. If I had rounded it more and put a flat head screw in it, it would have looked more like the late 50's and earlier 60's Rambows that so many have seen, but it would not have looked like that one used to.
Chris
www.hightowercues.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

I was interested in bidding on this, and even know the consignor (owns a card shop in Snellville). But the consignor couldn't get the seller to even respond to some very basic questions I had about the cue (9 days before the auction ended), so I didn't bid.

 

[TATE]

Chris,

That's very nice of you to come forward to say this. It pretty much matches my beliefs about this cue. I am sorry that I referred to the refinish as "amatuerish" because I know that you are highly skilled. It would be a difficult thing for anyone to preserve the penciled signatures in any fashion once they are worn through like this.

Still, you did your job. The cue sold for $1425 with pretty good action. That's certainly encouraging and justifies the work the owner asked you to do. The old cue with the worn signature and carcked butt cap probably wouldn't have got $900, the Hightower restoration got a lot more.

While the butt cap shape and screw is a new one on me, I will now know one clue for dating his cues. This sort of infiormation is invaluable. Also, the "shaky" signature was probably the result of his advancing age and declining health.

Thanks for the info, Chris!

Chris

 

[runscott]

Chris,

That's very nice of you to come forward to say this. It pretty much matches my beliefs about this cue. I am sorry that I referred to the refinish as "amatuerish" because I know that you are highly skilled. It would be a difficult thing for anyone to preserve the penciled signatures in any fashion once they are worn through like this.

Chris

Agreed, it the consignor or ebay seller had told me Chris did the refinish, bidding would have been a no-brainer. BTW - the ebay seller is a nice guy who contacted the consignor at least twice asking for him to respond to my questions, and nothing - probably only cost him a few hundred $$

Note sent on 9th:
"Thanks Joe - what is the new butt made of? Also, is there any provenance (paperwork,etc.), what repairs (refinishes, etc.) have been done, and by who? I'm serious about the cue and don't doubt it's authenticity, but have to ask questions because of all the "sort of" Rambows sold lately on ebay."

 

[cueman]

Chris,

That's very nice of you to come forward to say this. It pretty much matches my beliefs about this cue. I am sorry that I referred to the refinish as "amatuerish" because I know that you are highly skilled. It would be a difficult thing for anyone to preserve the penciled signatures in any fashion once they are worn through like this.

Still, you did your job. The cue sold for $1425 with pretty good action. That's certainly encouraging and justifies the work the owner asked you to do. The old cue with the worn signature and carcked butt cap probably wouldn't have got $900, the Hightower restoration got a lot more.

While the butt cap shape and screw is a new one on me, I will now know one clue for dating his cues. This sort of infiormation is invaluable. Also, the "shaky" signature was probably the result of his advancing age and declining health.

Thanks for the info, Chris!

Chris

I once mentioned the two hole screw to someone who knows a lot more about old cues than I do and he said he had heard of it but never seen one. He also said it sounded like something Rambow's helper would have done near the end. This was a very late Rambow so it may well be this cue was mostly built by the apprentice. You owe no apology as I agree with you that the signature did not look all that great.
Chris
www.cuesmith.com
www.internationalcuemakers.com

 

[Hunter]

I have a "project cue" very similiar to this one, if anyone is interested. Probably a Rambow, but the original owner had some problems during a repair job. He took it in to his local repair shop some years back and told the guy he wanted a new insert for the shaft and to change out the tip and ferrule. The repairman put in the new insert, but thought the owner wanted the buttcap changed. He put an ABS cap on to replace the ivory cap (which is very similiar to the one mentioned in this thread). The ivory cap has all kinds of the usual ivory age cracks, but none are cracked through, or even close from what I can tell. The original owner didn't mind any of this, he just wanted a good playing cue, and he told me he's used it just the way it is for thirty years. The points are just a little rough right at the tips and it has some kind of a shellac or varnish finish, along with the fact that the repairman put a steel insert in the shaft, and what was once a fine cue now needs some TLC. The cue appears to be a figured ebony... I'm only asking $300 + shipping for it, so if anyone wants a great project cue, please PM me. Trades considered.

Thanks,

Steve

 

[titlistsucker]

I have a "project cue" very similiar to this one, if anyone is interested. Probably a Rambow, but the original owner had some problems during a repair job. He took it in to his local repair shop some years back and told the guy he wanted a new insert for the shaft and to change out the tip and ferrule. The repairman put in the new insert, but thought the owner wanted the buttcap changed. He put an ABS cap on to replace the ivory cap (which is very similiar to the one mentioned in this thread). The ivory cap has all kinds of the usual ivory age cracks, but none are cracked through, or even close from what I can tell. The original owner didn't mind any of this, he just wanted a good playing cue, and he told me he's used it just the way it is for thirty years. The points are just a little rough right at the tips and it has some kind of a shellac or varnish finish, along with the fact that the repairman put a steel insert in the shaft, and what was once a fine cue now needs some TLC. The cue appears to be a figured ebony... I'm only asking $300 + shipping for it, so if anyone wants a great project cue, please PM me. Trades considered.

Thanks,

Steve

PM sent.

Bgrds
Raist

 

[runscott]

I have a "project cue" very similiar to this one, if anyone is interested. Probably a Rambow, but the original owner had some problems during a repair job. He took it in to his local repair shop some years back and told the guy he wanted a new insert for the shaft and to change out the tip and ferrule. The repairman put in the new insert, but thought the owner wanted the buttcap changed. He put an ABS cap on to replace the ivory cap (which is very similiar to the one mentioned in this thread). The ivory cap has all kinds of the usual ivory age cracks, but none are cracked through, or even close from what I can tell. The original owner didn't mind any of this, he just wanted a good playing cue, and he told me he's used it just the way it is for thirty years. The points are just a little rough right at the tips and it has some kind of a shellac or varnish finish, along with the fact that the repairman put a steel insert in the shaft, and what was once a fine cue now needs some TLC. The cue appears to be a figured ebony... I'm only asking $300 + shipping for it, so if anyone wants a great project cue, please PM me. Trades considered.

Thanks,

Steve

Very interesting cue. I think the shellack coating actually has protected it.

• The leather wrap is original and much like the Hoppe wraps but better done - almost flush with butt and forearm, but has the same wavy seam.
  
• Thicker butt through wrap than modern cues, but thinner forearm near joint, shorter pin than Rambow pics I've seen.
  
• Definitely made from a Titlist blank - it's a dark hardwood, but not ebony - tough to tell what because the shellack darkened everything (even the shaft).
  
• Shaft is thinner at joint, but almost no taper, to a 13.5+ tip.

 

[runscott]

Before and 'After' Pics

So far I've sanded and applied one coat of tung oil, re-worked the leather wrap. Getting ready to add finish by hand - probably semi-gloss polyurethane.

 

[Hunter]

Hi Scott,

Looks like you're working some magic on the old timer! What did you finally figure the wood is? It's sure a lot darker than the one you've pictured next to it. You going to try to do anything with the old ivory buttcap?

Take care,

Steve

 

[runscott]

Hi Scott,

Looks like you're working some magic on the old timer! What did you finally figure the wood is? It's sure a lot darker than the one you've pictured next to it. You going to try to do anything with the old ivory buttcap?

Take care,

Steve

I'm almost sure it's Mahogany. The old butt-cap/bumper is McDermott - once I removed the bumper, it looked much better, so I'll probably leave the old ivory buttcap off. Plus, I'm doing this all by hand and not ready to tackle that job.

I had extensive email exchanges with the previous owner to get a better idea of previous condition. He has been rubbing Kiwi shoe polish into the handle for 40 years - mineral spirits, then saddle soap to get that out, then repeated apps of neetsfoot oil. The grip is finally alive again. The cue hits very nice as well - much better than the Hoppe in the picture above.

Very fun project - I sanded once and applied two coats of Tung Oil. It was too dark and still rough, so I re-did and only used one coat.

 

[nick serdula]

consider this

Send it to Jerry Rauenzahn he will do it as close to perfect as possableand the cost will be amazingly low. Good luck Nick
Jerry's #814-723-8322
He will be done with it in a week or two depending on what you have done to it. Because that old things value will only grow and quick think of it as a investment because Jerry charges about halve what everyone else seems to be chargeing the call might be worth your time.

 

[runscott]

Send it to Jerry Rauenzahn he will do it as close to perfect as possableand the cost will be amazingly low. Good luck Nick
Jerry's #814-723-8322
He will be done with it in a week or two depending on what you have done to it. Because that old things value will only grow and quick think of it as a investment because Jerry charges about halve what everyone else seems to be chargeing the call might be worth your time.

Jerry does great conversions, and I discussed this with him prior to beginning - I decided to do it myself.

Here's B&A pics of a JR conversion of a 1940's Hoppe 1-piece - just received thiks week: