Rocky Tillis.........

BarenbruggeCues

BarenbruggeCues

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I seen something today that was an interesting piece of history.
A Rocky Tillis cue............I know, I don't get out much.
I have a question about his building techniques that I hope someone may be able to shed some light on.
First, I'll tell you I'm too lazy to do my own research.
Second, I figure if I read it here it has to be the gospel truth!
Question.........Did Rocky have a milling machine in his shop? or have access to one?
Question.........Did he have a pantograph or some type of inlaying machine in shop?

Curious mind...........looking for answers.

Thanks for the help.......
 
I have one that I love.. do a search on google for Tampa Billiards and there is a story about Rocky and his cues.. A little before my time but I used to play 1 hole with an older guy in Bradenton Fl that used to visit his shop quite often
 
BarenbruggeCues said:
Question.........Did Rocky have a milling machine in his shop? or have access to one?
Click to expand...
I don't think so. He's known for having minimal equipment. Probably just a woodlathe and hand tools.


Question.........Did he have a pantograph or some type of inlaying machine in shop?
......
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Doubt it. He was a dot type of guy, which pretty much just needs a drill press or just a drill.

Fred
 
Cornerman said:
I don't think so. He's known for having minimal equipment. Probably just a woodlathe and hand tools.



Doubt it. He was a dot type of guy, which pretty much just needs a drill press or just a drill.

Fred
Click to expand...

He had quite a bit of equipment but very basic. He had metal lathes. He was doing his cutting with a Dumore when I was at his shop. I used to talk to him a lot when I would go to the Bakers tournaments. He was a neet guy he always had things in his pockets and he always wore work clothes. You would be talking and he would produce some kind of joint or something he was working on from his pocket. He made me two cues. The fanciest inlays he did were diamonds. I suspect he cut them by hand because they were a little crude.
 
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Appreciate the insight on Rocky's work..........
I got a phone call from a friend who knew Rocky well and give me some more knowledge about his techniques also.
I was totally blown away with construction of the forearm to the handle on this cue.
It is an 8 point cue and is a full splice put together. I have never seen this done before. Now we are talking about a cue probably constructed in or around the late 70's.........what an innovator!
My friend told me he did in fact have a milling machine in his shop that would have made this feat a little easier to construct but still............mind teasing.
He was definately a dot kind of decorator......a pretty intricate design in the back end for just doing dots.
Thanks again for input.........
 
BarenbruggeCues said:
Appreciate the insight on Rocky's work..........
I got a phone call from a friend who knew Rocky well and give me some more knowledge about his techniques also.
I was totally blown away with construction of the forearm to the handle on this cue.
It is an 8 point cue and is a full splice put together. I have never seen this done before. Now we are talking about a cue probably constructed in or around the late 70's.........what an innovator!
My friend told me he did in fact have a milling machine in his shop that would have made this feat a little easier to construct but still............mind teasing.
He was definately a dot kind of decorator......a pretty intricate design in the back end for just doing dots.
Thanks again for input.........
Click to expand...
Sure, the butt's nice.
Is the shaft fancy-lamination type?:)
Rocky should be in the hall of fame.
 
BarenbruggeCues said:
Appreciate the insight on Rocky's work..........
I got a phone call from a friend who knew Rocky well and give me some more knowledge about his techniques also.
I was totally blown away with construction of the forearm to the handle on this cue.
It is an 8 point cue and is a full splice put together. I have never seen this done before. Now we are talking about a cue probably constructed in or around the late 70's.........what an innovator!
My friend told me he did in fact have a milling machine in his shop that would have made this feat a little easier to construct but still............mind teasing.
He was definately a dot kind of decorator......a pretty intricate design in the back end for just doing dots.
Thanks again for input.........
Click to expand...
I little more Rocky info.
http://www.tampabilliards.com/terry.html
 
macguy said:
He had quite a bit of equipment but very basic. He had metal lathes. .
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Thanks. I must have been confusing his minimilist approach with Harvey Martin.

Fred <~~~ probably wrong about Martin, too.
 
Cornerman said:
Thanks. I must have been confusing his minimilist approach with Harvey Martin.

Fred <~~~ probably wrong about Martin, too.
Click to expand...

I think you are thinking of Abe Rich, all he has/had is a wood lathe and some saws
 
JoeyInCali said:
Sure, the butt's nice.
Is the shaft fancy-lamination type?:)
Rocky should be in the hall of fame.
Click to expand...

The shafts are one piece.......kind of thin, long tapered...
Unfortunately the butt is a banana........the forearm ..bad...looks like someone sat on it for about 5 years.
Thats why it didn't have a wrap on it and when I started looking closer you could definately see that the 8 points and handle are from the same piece of rosewood. Short points.......maybe only 5 inch long.
Nice piece of history.......too bad it's not in better shape.
 
Fullsplice said:
Hey Dave, do you have any pictures? Thank you sir. Merry Christmas!

Mark Bear
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Didn't have my Olympus with at the time but I am going to try and do so if the owner will allow me too.
You could do splices like these easy!! With veneers!!
 
Sure! Everything's EASY right? I've made a few 8 pointers, 4 half and then the other 4 full. I like seeing that old stuff though.

I thought everybody carried a camera around with them these days? What's wrong with you?
 
Fullsplice said:
Sure! Everything's EASY right? I've made a few 8 pointers, 4 half and then the other 4 full. I like seeing that old stuff though.

I thought everybody carried a camera around with them these days? What's wrong with you?
Click to expand...

Look .......I've had just about enough of your lip!!!!
You know what.......I do have camera with me just about all times....
My flippin phone........but I've used it maybe 3 times and just never think about it. Major cocobolo dust intake will do that to you..........
 
Fullsplice said:
Sure! Everything's EASY right? I've made a few 8 pointers, 4 half and then the other 4 full. I like seeing that old stuff though.

I thought everybody carried a camera around with them these days? What's wrong with you?
Click to expand...
I thought those veneers were stickers :)
 
Stickers made out of that 200 mph Nascar tape! Extra hard to get off. Thanks for posting my secret.

Dave? Does cocobolo dust give you anger management problems? Maybe that's what my problem is.

Mark
 
Fullsplice said:
Sure! Everything's EASY right? I've made a few 8 pointers, 4 half and then the other 4 full.
Click to expand...

All 8 points coming off the handle piece on this one.
I know you could do it.......just sit down with a pencil and couple rootbeers and WAH-LA..........
I thought the anger thing was just your natural self!! I can't imagine you being one of the nice guys! Bum told me they were thinking about moving their booth because of you!

Merry and a Happy..........
 
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