Who invented the "BREAK CUE?"
- Thread starter LWW
- Start date
In the old days, I guy would saunter in to the pool room and, after a casual look around, would talk a tuna into a game, for just the time. Then, he'd spend ten minutes inspecting every house cue until finding one that was acceptable. During the game he kept up this constant monologue. Whatever he was saying gradually had its affect and the game changed from time to time and a fin. At that point, the guy would go out to his car and come back with his "real" cue. Taking it out of its case and screwing it together would sometime put fear into those opponents not familiar with custom instruments. Now, the player needed something to break with. For that selection, he just walked over to the nearest rack and spent maybe five seconds picking something with a half way decent tip and some weight - more weight than whatever his custom came in at.
Now, I say all of that because I can't for the life of me figure out why a pro would spend months getting used to his game stick, only to use "my break cue" to make the most important shot of the entire game. I think it must be marketing.
Now, I say all of that because I can't for the life of me figure out why a pro would spend months getting used to his game stick, only to use "my break cue" to make the most important shot of the entire game. I think it must be marketing.
I know who invented the Break Jump Cue
I know him personally.
Rick Howard.
Nick
I know him personally.
Rick Howard.
Nick
The earliest I know of is the Sammy Jones Meucci's,,,,,though I do not know who specifically designed it. I had one for years,,,,,it is now in Sammy Jones personal cue collection.
Everything that you are about to read is hearsay so take it for what it is. I heard somewhere that Mike Sigel showed up to a tournament with a separate stick to break with and it took off from there. I also heard that Grady used to have a special break stick for one pocket.
I don't know who coined the idea of a break cue, but I did have a book by the late great Steve Mizerak and in the "Equipment" chapter of the book, he mentioned that the purpose of the break cue was so that it would save alot of hardening and excess wear on the cue tip of a normal playing cue.
In the same chapter was a photo of Steve's Balabushka with the MoP dove inlay and his various cue cases, including the white leather "Miller Lite" logod 2x4 case he had.
Just thought I'd post this up for a little extra input.
In the same chapter was a photo of Steve's Balabushka with the MoP dove inlay and his various cue cases, including the white leather "Miller Lite" logod 2x4 case he had.
Just thought I'd post this up for a little extra input.
I co invented it with Fred and Barney cutting down Bam Bams club. This was years before I got with Billy Gates on Putes. I also recall a meeting with Henry Ford who wanted my advice on a color for this new Auto thing he was getting into, I suggested black.
I know him personally.
Rick Howard.
Nick
Nick I think you hit the nail on the head!!!!!!
The sigel story is true! I got one of those break cues as a kid from Danny James. They also appeared in the color of money as the house cue Tom Cruise Twirled around. Last I heard, Danny James said he made roughly 50 of those for the movie and sale. Not sure how many survived???
They are solid rosewood and one piece. Jump cues did not exist at the time. Danny gave them half ferrules and they were fiber ferrules. I was a kid so Danny James made mine the only one with a Ivory Ferrulle!!!
A few years later, Sammy Jones appeared with his jump cue/break cue. Sammy taught me how to jump at the BCA trade show when he introduced them. I was there as a Junior player in the first BCA junior tournaments with Max Eberle, Charlie Williams & the Late Chan Whitt.
KD
They are solid rosewood and one piece. Jump cues did not exist at the time. Danny gave them half ferrules and they were fiber ferrules. I was a kid so Danny James made mine the only one with a Ivory Ferrulle!!!
A few years later, Sammy Jones appeared with his jump cue/break cue. Sammy taught me how to jump at the BCA trade show when he introduced them. I was there as a Junior player in the first BCA junior tournaments with Max Eberle, Charlie Williams & the Late Chan Whitt.
KD
then why you play so baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaad?!!?
:bow-down::bow-down::bow-down::bow-down::bow-down::bow-down:
Dan Janes is the name of the gentleman you are refering to.
I was playing a lot at the Rack Room, in Langhorne, in the early-mid 1980's. Big Jim came in with a shorty made for him by Gus Szamboti. He then demonstrated how easy it was to jump with a shorty. Shortly after that, I was playing Pete Fusco in a $5 Tuesday night tournament and hooked him on the four ball. This was at the Boulevard. He went behind the counter and brought out a shorty that apparently was provided by Gus, also, and jumped over a full ball to pocket the four ball and run out.
This was before the Color of Money.