more Hoppe/Titlist info
here is an old post I pirated in my days as a lurker on RSB
------------------------------------------------------------------
you might want to try to get access to a copy of *the Encyclopedia* by
Rubino and Stein - an excellent source for cue info
Timeline - somewhat documented, some guessed at
1941ish - Brunswick begins selling the Titlist house cue and the
Willie Hoppe professional 2pc both have Hoppe*s signature
burned into the forearm
<for the truly pedantic>the immediate predecessor of the
Hoppe/Titlist was a house cue with the four veneers marketed
under the name of Karom King?? Kue King?? or some such
the Karom/Kue King was a revival of the popular Berger(sp?) style
produced early in the century - same spliced points - same veneers
(dates uncertain) - Herman was the chief cuemaker at the
Titlist Cue Co, I presume a wholly owned subsidiary of Brunswick, makers of
the Titlist house cue and Willie Hoppe 2pc
(probably the Master Stroke too)
He also made custom cues to order, mostly based on Titlist/Hoppe
spliced butts<with more of the points showing and no Hoppe
signature>
1949 - Frank Paradise begins making tarted-up versions of
the Rambow, also employing the Titlist splice but adding rings of
metal and sections of colored, marbleized material widely
believed to be cut up bowling balls of the day
Frank also *invented* the clear acrylic *window* and foil sticker
made so famous by Palmer cues
1953/1954? - Rambow retires, Brunswick *gives* him much
of the cue making equipment to take home with him, he continues
making custom cues, literally, till the day he died. Now, virtually
all are based on the Titlist splice
1960ish - Gene Balner partners up with Paradise
1964 - Gene Balner*s son Pete, graduates from High school,
Gene bids Paradise a fond adieu and founds Palmer Cue Co
with Pete as a full time worker - they also base most of their first
line of cues on the Titlist/Hoppe splice
1960 - George starts making custom cues, many based on the
Titlist
1967 - Herman dies
1968 - Paradise dies
late 60s - quality of Titlist declines markedly - cue makers look for
other options
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Lucid and thorough, now that's what I call an answer. I greatly
appreciate the research and time you must have spent on this. You have
certainly earned my respect.
Regards, Rod
