When did plastic veneers show up?
- Thread starter fhopper
- Start date
I just got what I thought was an older Viking but the veneers are plastic/vinyl. When did plastic show up in cues? thanks
To my knowledge they were first used in the 1960's, and I believe they were first made by Bob Meucci when he was at or shortly after he left National Cue which was a Division of National Chalk / Billiards supplies in Chicago. The company that was selling these blanks in the late 60's into the 70's was WICO, even Gus Szamboti used some of these blanks before he made his own.
Hope this helps
Right on. I think Bob Meucci started making those WICO blanks in 1968.
There is still controversy around whether or not Spain tried it...but I really think he did.
Viking also made their own.
I have two vinyl veneer Vikings. One from 80 or 81 and one from about 85. They look great. The vinyls are really cool and really bright.
Nice cue.
There is still controversy around whether or not Spain tried it...but I really think he did.
Viking also made their own.
I have two vinyl veneer Vikings. One from 80 or 81 and one from about 85. They look great. The vinyls are really cool and really bright.
Nice cue.
There is no controversy about whether Burton made some out of molds and they were not high enough quality to market. That has been confirmed by eye witnesses. Then Bob Meucci perfected them and made the type you see in the Viking cues. It was in the late 60's when Bob introduced what people call the "Wico" blanks.
I understand and that is what I believe. I have seen and heard people deny that, hence I said there is still some controversy. Perhaps I should have said there is more controversy about whether or not he ever made a cue out of one as I have seen that argued as well.
I only used the term because I have seen people argue about it and I don't want to argue about it.
Anyway, as far as I am concerned he tried it, didn't like it, and moved on.
Thanks for the replies. I just dropped it off at Shurtz and Bob Owens is going to make a new shaft for it. He has an index that matches. It is a little intimidating to be around his cues when I am just a McDermott production cue kinda guy. It will be fun to have a shaft by him. I think I will call him and ask him to sign the shaft... is that dorkey?
It's my understanding that Gus used the Wico plastic veneers (only, not prong blanks) in building about 6 cues. A close friend of mine has one.
Yes, you are a dork....I am a dork.....we are all cue dorks.......it's like a dork fest around here....
I think it's a cool idea.
Enjoy the cue.
Thanks for the correction Chris, that is what I like about this forum so much knowledge compressed into the size of a Monitor!!!!:smile:
I know where I got the information that I posted originally, I read it in the 2rd Edition of the Blue Book of Cues on page 774. This is not the first time information has been confused, like I tell people all the time the Blue Books are great books to have, however, there are mistakes that are not intentional.
(In the Blue Book it says that the first 10 or 12 cues Gus built were made from Blanks made by WICO.)
Have a nice day
Cuesmith on here is Sherm.
But both could be right as Bob told me he was selling the top guys wood veneer blanks before he started making the plastic veneer blanks. People came on here calling Bob a liar and all kinds of stuff, because he said he made wood veneer blanks for some other Hall of Fame cuemakers in the late 60s. I believe him and others don't. They base their disbelief on George and Gus being totally open about all their sources. As tight lipped as I found cuemakers to be in the 80's, I would doubt they were any less tight lipped in the 60's, so it would not surprise me if George and Gus kept their business to themselves. And Bob is a eye witness. They actually came on asking that Bob produce a receipt from the 60's and if he couldn't that he was a liar. One day Prather might reveal who all he sold to or I could do the same one day, and I guess we would get called liars also.
Bump for another shot at an answer.
I'm a big Dork too. Just ask my wife.
Its not totally a bad thing most days.
If he will sign your cue for you and it makes you happy, go for it.
Its not totally a bad thing most days.
If he will sign your cue for you and it makes you happy, go for it.
What question do you want answered?
what does WICO stand for?
It stands for Wiczer Corporation. It's a company which has been supplying the "amusements industry", pin balls, video games, coin-op stuff, for decades. They were the distributor of the WICO veneers, tips, chalk etc in Chicago. They had some sort of tie in with National I believe.
http://www.nocashvalue.info/index.php/2009/06/wico-a-brief-history/#more-274
Sherm
Bill, were you referring to using just the veneers or forearm blanks on your first 3. I wasn't aware that WICO made or sold "blanks" (forearms w/ veneered points). I thought they just sold the plastic veneers. Please correct me if I'm wrong!
Sherm