Very Rare 1 of 1 Frank Paradise Custom Cue Made in the 1950's

manwon

manwon

"WARLOCK 1"
Silver Member
Hello, a friend of mine brought in a cue today that is very special. This cue was made for his father by frank Paradise during the 1950's. The cue is a one of kind Paradise cue, I am uncertain who or what company produced the cues blank. Don Wagner or "CAP", was the gentleman the cue was made for and the cue is currently a treasured possesion of Don's son. Don served 28 years in the US Airforce, and the nick name "CAP" came from the fact that he was a Captain at the time he received the nick name.

Don, was a very tough competitor and he was also a road player during the 50's and 60's. He was very good friends with Eddie Taylor and Cowboy Jimmy Moore, and he also traveled on the road with them both. His son, who is my friend, was lucky enough to have received Bank Pool lessons from Eddie Taylor personally. Now for those who do not know it, Eddie may have been the best Bank Pool Player in the history of pool.

Don was also very good Friends with Bill Schick one of the top cue makers in this country. Bill refinished this cue in approximately the late 70's or the early 1980's. Don passed away a few years back, and I for one do not think that the players from day's past ever get the credit they should for thier accomplishments and history they made.

Below are photo's of this cue!!

If anyone has anything they would like to add about Don Wagner, please share it.

Oh and by the way, if anyone knows what this means please post the answer. In the cues window above Franks name are the words NO-TE-APUREL

Forearm use.jpg

Forearm use 2.jpg

Forearm use 3.jpg

Forearm pin1.jpg

Cue use 3.jpg

Please enjoy, more pictures to follow.
 
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Manwon,
What an amazing cue. I am sorry I don't know the worth, but what a piece of history. The cue has a Palmer model J look to it..........could it be a Szamboti blank??

Mike
 
tksix said:
Manwon,
What an amazing cue. I am sorry I don't know the worth, but what a piece of history. The cue has a Palmer model J look to it..........could it be a Szamboti blank??

Mike
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Thanks for the input Mike, but that could not be the case. The cue was made in the 1950's by Frank, many Paradise cues are mistaken for Palmers. Eugen Balner did not work for Frank when this cue was made, and the Early Palmer Cue company designs were all carry overs / copies from the time that Eugen worked for Frank.

Just a note, Gus Szamboti did not start making blanks until the 1970's.

Again thanks for your input, and have a great night!!
 
manwon said:
Thanks for the kind words, but what would something like this be worth today, with the cues history!!!!!!!
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Schick refinishing the cue devalues it a little. But I would say the cue should bring between $3500 to $5000, but that is just a guess. Put it on ebay and tell eveyone on here about it and you can see what it will bring. :)
I paid over $3000 for one of equal design level. The cue market is down a little, but I would say he should have no problem topping the $3000 mark.
 
cueman said:
Schick refinishing the cue devalues it a little. But I would say the cue should bring between $3500 to $5000, but that is just a guess. Put it on ebay and tell eveyone on here about it and you can see what it will bring. :)
I paid over $3000 for one of equal design level. The cue market is down a little, but I would say he should have no problem topping the $3000 mark.
Click to expand...

Thanks very much for input. Do you have any idea who made the blank for this cue?

Thanks Craig
 
I understand..............I missed the 50's part. Reading to fast I guess. I am just amazed by these cues.
I tried to track down that saying for you "NO-TE-APUREL" I thought it was French but it did not translate. I tried Spanish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Latin. None of those languages had any translation for the word APUREL.

Sorry!!
 
tksix said:
I understand..............I missed the 50's part. Reading to fast I guess. I am just amazed by these cues.
I tried to track down that saying for you "NO-TE-APUREL" I thought it was French but it did not translate. I tried Spanish, Russian, Italian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Latin. None of those languages had any translation for the word APUREL.

Sorry!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help!!

Have a great night!!
 
Verry nice

I think the date is a little off but, palmer, not gus blank, old school. maby conv blank one of one hand made. pardise was limited in building full splice, lot of work!!!

But if its from the 50s nice work one of one.


Thanks Rvan.
 
rvan said:
I think the date is a little off but, palmer, not gus blank, old school. maby conv blank one of one hand made. pardise was limited in building full splice, lot of work!!!

But if its from the 50s nice work one of one.


Thanks Rvan.
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I am not sure of the construction date, I can only go by what Mr. Wagner told me while he was still alive. I am certain of this however, Palmer had nothing to do with this splice. But, if the date of construction is off, the forearm may have been made by Burton Spain, however, I am uncertain when exactly he started making blanks.

Thanks for the information!
 
Interesting to see designs adopted by Palmer...

I can't help but think that this cue was off the charts in its time with the decor it has. Its a classy look. I would also assume that the cue was also considered pricey in comparison to other cues available at that time. Although I didn't understand the significance at the time, an older, well-heeled Italian straight pool player named "Andy" used to come on ocassion to the pool room I hung out at as a young teen. He had a very fancy Paradise cue.

Who else might have made the prong?

Martin
 
Craig,

Perhaps you could contact Bill Schick to see what he knows about the cue and/or its history. He could maybe give you insight to the cue, the player, timing of its construction, maker of blank, etc.

By the way, Bill Schick refinishing the cue does not devalue the cue at all in my opinion, it enhances its value. Particularly with the timing of the refinish.

Take care,

Will
 
ibuycues said:
Craig,

Perhaps you could contact Bill Schick to see what he knows about the cue and/or its history. He could maybe give you insight to the cue, the player, timing of its construction, maker of blank, etc.

By the way, Bill Schick refinishing the cue does not devalue the cue at all in my opinion, it enhances its value. Particularly with the timing of the refinish.

Take care,

Will
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Hello Will, first let me say thanks for your input, I know that you are knowledgeable and are a true cue connoisseur. I will contact Bill, the gentleman (Don Wagner) the cue was built for was very good friends with MR. Schick. In fact they were involved in business together making Putters at some time in the past, according to Don's son.

The cue will never be for sale, Dons son still plays with it. Out of respect and love for his father I am certain that cue will be his main player until it is passed to his son.

Thanks again, your input is always valued!!!!!
 
jazznpool said:
I can't help but think that this cue was off the charts in its time with the decor it has. Its a classy look. I would also assume that the cue was also considered pricey in comparison to other cues available at that time. Although I didn't understand the significance at the time, an older, well-heeled Italian straight pool player named "Andy" used to come on ocassion to the pool room I hung out at as a young teen. He had a very fancy Paradise cue.

Who else might have made the prong?

Martin
Click to expand...

Hello Martin and thanks for the input!! Well Martin, according to Don's son, I think he told me that the cue new was a little over $300. I think the most interesting fact about this cue, is that a similar design was used in Palmer's during the 1970's. It is amazing that many of Palmer's designs that everyone today loves were directly influenced by Frank Paradise, and no one today really acknowledges this fact.

But cues like this one sure raise questions, and even if it was made in the 1960's not the 1950's the influence is hard to hide or dispute!!!!!;)
 
Craig...I too attempted a Google search on No-Te-Apurel...nothing, sorta. I picked up a hit for a story that was written in what I assume to be Spanish...or a dialect thereof, in which appears the phrase "No te apure!" When I searched further, I learned that loosely translated, the above phrase means "Don't worry!" Kinda interesting...hopefully that phrase might shed some light...providing I got it right...LoL.

Simply an amazing cue.....really!

Lisa
 
ridewiththewind said:
Craig...I too attempted a Google search on No-Te-Apurel...nothing, sorta. I picked up a hit for a story that was written in what I assume to be Spanish...or a dialect thereof, in which appears the phrase "No te apure!" When I searched further, I learned that loosely translated, the above phrase means "Don't worry!" Kinda interesting...hopefully that phrase might shed some light...providing I got it right...LoL.

Simply an amazing cue.....really!

Lisa
Click to expand...

Thanks very Much Lisa, if you ever made it to City Lights during the Mid-1990's you may have met the original owner, did you ever meet CAP?

Well either way, he was one hell of a one hole player, and that is certainly one hell of a cue. Thanks very much for trying to help with that name.

Have a great night!!!!
 
manwon said:
Thanks very Much Lisa, if you ever made it to City Lights during the Mid-1990's you may have met the original owner, did you ever meet CAP?

Well either way, he was one hell of a one hole player, and that is certainly one hell of a cue. Thanks very much for trying to help with that name.

Have a great night!!!!
Click to expand...


Naw, Craig. While I was living in this area at the time, I was still married to a guy who would've never allowed me to play pool, let alone travel to do it...LoL. I still miss him, but my aim is getting much better!! :rolleyes: :p

Lisa
 
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