Which Cuemakers have apprentices?
- Thread starter jasonlaus
- Start date
Lambros had an apprentice.
As a matter of fact, i saw him on SPIDERWEB's webcast at the recent expo with the guy in the finals of a mini tournament where he was playing with Zinnie P.
When i asked Spider if it was the Lambros apprentice guy in the background, it was confirmed and the guy upon hearing that, said something in the background like "wasted 8 years of my life..."
Apparently, he and Spider are friends so If anyone has any questions, Spider might be able to clear them up.
I know that Vince Sangmeister used to be a part of Black Boars team way back in the day., but he hasn't been there for over 10 years.
As for other cue guys, i don't really know.
As a matter of fact, i saw him on SPIDERWEB's webcast at the recent expo with the guy in the finals of a mini tournament where he was playing with Zinnie P.
When i asked Spider if it was the Lambros apprentice guy in the background, it was confirmed and the guy upon hearing that, said something in the background like "wasted 8 years of my life..."
Apparently, he and Spider are friends so If anyone has any questions, Spider might be able to clear them up.
I know that Vince Sangmeister used to be a part of Black Boars team way back in the day., but he hasn't been there for over 10 years.
As for other cue guys, i don't really know.
I'll go first. I have seen some Gina's that the Miters? looked terrible. Just wondering why people don't think this is important & I understand Ernie is one of the greats but the miters are important too. If you're selling functional art shouldnt everything be taken into consideration? Why can Haley get them almost perfect but Ernie can't. I've got my flame retardant clothes on so fire away.
I was never an apprentice (John Robinson locked the doors). Have never had an apprentice or help. Do not plan on having an apprentice or help (except my wife who cleans the shop for me
)
REASON: Its my name on the cue.
)REASON: Its my name on the cue.
snowmon34 said:
and remain students
even the guys that have been around for a long time will tell you you can always continue learning
( i know one in particular that will not even on his deathbed admit that i taught him a better way to do something he did for yearsssssssssssssssss before i came along)
stubborn old coot!!!
it's a never ending process of adapting to new materials, new chemicals/finishes/adhesives we have to work with daily, new demands from the public, the list goes on & on
i started as a struggling do it on my own guy
then i became a struggling apprentice
now i'm a struggling cuemaker
and now i have a struggling apprentice!!!!
that was for you willie
to the original question, it varies
you have to develop and progress as an apprentice until the BOSS feels you can take on more
and every apprentice is different as far as his or her progression,
AGREED????
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jasonlaus said:
I have seen some Gina's that the Miters? looked terrible. Just wondering why people don't think this is important & I understand Ernie is one of the greats
So what does that have to do with an apprentice, or are you saying that it looks like an apprentice did the work?
Any cue maker who has an apprentice is certainly responsible for the work they do, because it will reflect directly upon that cue maker. With that said, I think it is the responsibility of that cue maker to fully inspect all work done by an apprentice.
I own a pool room, retail store, and full pro-shop including cue repair. The cue work I do is everything from tips to complete refinish work / restoration of Antique cues. In addition since 2006 I have started building a limited number of conversion cues, jump break cues, and jump cues for my local customers. I have a young man that has worked part time for me for the last two years who I have trained for doing basic cue repairs. I have also allowed him to build his own shooting cue and jump break cue. Now he has been doing basic cue repair for almost two years, however, his work never leaves my shop unless I inspect it, and it is to my standards. I do this not because I think he is going to intentionally let bad work leave the shop, but because whether the work is mine or his I am still responsible for it. In addition, no matter what anyone says my name is on everything leaving my store including merchandise I sell, some may disagree but that is my opinion. People in business should never forget, the customer is always right, even when they are not. But, by treating them that way, even though you may lose a little right there, you will get 10 fold back in the end.
Just my thoughts.
Bill Shick had/has Kyle G. (forgot his last name). Does some really good work.....He is local to my area now.....
SCHICK============>WHEELER
BLACK=============>WHEELER-----back in the day
STROUD============> KIKEL, ROBIN?
DPK================>BENDER, YOUNG, FRANKLIN and influenced many others
MOTTEY============>WHITE
SCRUGGS============>CORCORAN, FREY
FRANKLIN============>influenced many
off the top of my head, feel free to supplement/modify
BLACK=============>WHEELER-----back in the day
STROUD============> KIKEL, ROBIN?
DPK================>BENDER, YOUNG, FRANKLIN and influenced many others
MOTTEY============>WHITE
SCRUGGS============>CORCORAN, FREY
FRANKLIN============>influenced many
off the top of my head, feel free to supplement/modify
Apprentices
Good Question Jason,
Gus Szamboti had his son Barry and now ...
Barry has his son Jimmy.
Pete Tascarella has his son Pete.
Since each custom cue maker strives on perfection, only "they" know if their craftmanship can be impoved.
Regards,
Hal
jasonlaus said:
Good Question Jason,
Gus Szamboti had his son Barry and now ...
Barry has his son Jimmy.
Pete Tascarella has his son Pete.
Since each custom cue maker strives on perfection, only "they" know if their craftmanship can be impoved.
Regards,
Hal
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I ask that question of every middle aged/older great cuemaker that I talk with. None of them have apprentices and I get two responses on a regular basis. One common statement is that after they learn enough they [apprentices] go off on their own and become the competition. Another is that their work is never correct enough and it costs too much to absorb their mistakes.
It's easy to shoot holes in those excuses but apparently those makers choose to work alone. Go figure...Tom
It's easy to shoot holes in those excuses but apparently those makers choose to work alone. Go figure...Tom
blue bk-apprentices
Bert Schrager- Dennis Dieckman, Dennis also studied billiards under Frank Torres. Rollie Welch-Richard Helmstter,Dave Foreman. David Kersenbrock-Mike Bender. Leonard Bloodworth- Donald B., Mike Long. George Brittner-Herman Rambo.Craig Peterson-Joe Gold. Doc Fry inspired Gus Samboti. Jim Buss and brother George Buss both make cues. Jimmy Ingram- John Guffy.Burton Spain-Joel Hercek. Lenard Bloodworth-James Brumfield.Herbert Eckes-David Jacoby and Brandon please buy a blue bk and read mark
Bert Schrager- Dennis Dieckman, Dennis also studied billiards under Frank Torres. Rollie Welch-Richard Helmstter,Dave Foreman. David Kersenbrock-Mike Bender. Leonard Bloodworth- Donald B., Mike Long. George Brittner-Herman Rambo.Craig Peterson-Joe Gold. Doc Fry inspired Gus Samboti. Jim Buss and brother George Buss both make cues. Jimmy Ingram- John Guffy.Burton Spain-Joel Hercek. Lenard Bloodworth-James Brumfield.Herbert Eckes-David Jacoby and Brandon please buy a blue bk and read mark
tpdtom said:
Actually these are very valid reasons not to have apprentices. An apprentice by definition is someone who is learning for the purpose of becoming a master of the craft. As a master of the craft they would naturally seek to either own or be in charge of a shop. It's just natural progression if someone is in an apprentice position.
This is different than an assistant. An assistant normally is not trained in all aspects of the craft and is only expected to reach proficiency in the tasks assigned to them.
Both assistants and apprentices however are prone to making errors and that in fact is a cost that the shop must absorb.
I can tell you that I often have to redo cases because my inexperienced staff makes mistakes. Eventually they won't make those mistakes. But until that day I have to be responsible for what goes out the door and if that means we have to do it again five times then that's the way it is.
So I can understand the sentiment about not wanting to create future competition and not wanting to pay for other people's ineptitude.
In my interview with Ernie he said that if he had someone else working on the cues he would have to work twice as hard: Doing his work as well as constantly making sure they were doing theirs up to spec.
As to your opinions of his miters just call him and ask him about them if you really want to know. No one here can give you anything but opinion and conjecture. Ask the man himself.
As to your opinions of his miters just call him and ask him about them if you really want to know. No one here can give you anything but opinion and conjecture. Ask the man himself.