Willie Hoppe cue

northdakotafats

northdakotafats

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi Guys,

I would like to know if it's worth restoring the cue in the pictures.

I did a search but couldn't find much out about it.

Thanks
20210704_084450.jpg
 
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I'm no expert, but based on what I've dug up so far for mine, the sticker it is from the late forties to early 50's The "Hoppe Ring" was started by Rambow and later became an option.

Here is mine: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/my-brunswick-cue-day.524013/

If you can stand FB here is a link to a FB Hoppe page dedicated to just Hoppe type cues. You could ask them questions.

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I owned a cue like that at one time- but mine was in 90% original condition. This one has the ivory Hoppe ring. Depends what you want to do with it- I would recommend contacting Dave Brainard at Cues Directly- you can find him
mikehoppe3.jpg
on the internet. he will advise you as to what can be done- I do have a Willie Hoppe one piece cue converted by Dave to a 2 piece cue with a new shaft- came out perfect at a very reasonable cost.
hoppeoriginal labels.JPG
 
I've got the one I bought in 1965 which Danny Tibbitts refinished in the 1980s. They're a great piece of history and a real full splice cue. If you restore it to original, the butt/handle will be much fatter than what is customary today and won't play like a contemporary cue. So if you are going to fix it up, you have to decide whether to leave it in its current dimensions or have the cue maker thin it down to modern specs. If it were me I'd do the latter so I could use it as my playing cue. Good luck.
 
SSDiver2112 said:
I'm no expert, but based on what I've dug up so far for mine, the sticker it is from the late forties to early 50's The "Hoppe Ring" was started by Rambow and later became an option.

Here is mine: https://forums.azbilliards.com/threads/my-brunswick-cue-day.524013/

If you can stand FB here is a link to a FB Hoppe page dedicated to just Hoppe type cues. You could ask them questions.

Log into Facebook

Log into Facebook to start sharing and connecting with your friends, family, and people you know.
www.facebook.com www.facebook.com
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Thanks! I sent a request to join that group.
 
mikemosconi said:
I owned a cue like that at one time- but mine was in 90% original condition. This one has the ivory Hoppe ring. Depends what you want to do with it- I would recommend contacting Dave Brainard at Cues Directly- you can find himView attachment 601957 on the internet. he will advise you as to what can be done- I do have a Willie Hoppe one piece cue converted by Dave to a 2 piece cue with a new shaft- came out perfect at a very reasonable cost.View attachment 601958
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I will reach out to Dave. Thanks
 
Logandgriff said:
I've got the one I bought in 1965 which Danny Tibbitts refinished in the 1980s. They're a great piece of history and a real full splice cue. If you restore it to original, the butt/handle will be much fatter than what is customary today and won't play like a contemporary cue. So if you are going to fix it up, you have to decide whether to leave it in its current dimensions or have the cue maker thin it down to modern specs. If it were me I'd do the latter so I could use it as my playing cue. Good luck.
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I shot with it a bit and yes that thing is thick. I think I would get it turned down.
 
In order to restore your existing cue to exactly what it looked like when new, you will most probably need a new shaft, a total cue butt refinish, they most probably would have to remove and reinstall a new leather wrap to do the butt refinish, the label has holes, so it would need to be removed in the refinish and you will have to find a new one to put on the cue ( I believe reproductions labels are available) .

I think a conversion makes more sense, you may lose the label, but Dave can maybe keep the ivory hope ring. Dave can probably turn the cue down for you as well, he did on mine. I went without a wrap to show the full splice- looks great like that!
 
If you want it converted, it will require care and expertise.

If you want to sell it, I'm in for $300
 
If you like it why not. Of course I have no idea of the cost.... My dad and uncle bought these brand new in 1960 for $50.

Sent from my SM-G970U using Tapatalk
 
ideologist said:
Barf
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What a witty and informative reply! I don't claim to know anything about anything, just trying to help a brother out. Care to elaborate? That whole website is very interesting to me, lots of visual evidence that this guy *may* know something about these Hoppe cues.
 
gcmortal said:
What a witty and informative reply! I don't claim to know anything about anything, just trying to help a brother out. Care to elaborate? That whole website is very interesting to me, lots of visual evidence that this guy *may* know something about these Hoppe cues.
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The repro decals were designed to be purposely wrong and always look jarring on cues. This was done so they could not be used to pass off as original

My personal feelings on these were summed up in one word, but I'll elaborate. These decals on cues, like any baked good with walnuts: it may be good with them, but it is always better without them.
 
ideologist said:
The repro decals were designed to be purposely wrong and always look jarring on cues. This was done so they could not be used to pass off as original

My personal feelings on these were summed up in one word, but I'll elaborate. These decals on cues, like any baked good with walnuts: it may be good with them, but it is always better without them.
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I have a converted one piece Titlist cue, the cue was cut and then a reproduction Blue label was put on. I have it inline with my originals and it bugs me a bit.
Good looking from a far but far from good looking.
I guess it’s nice to at least have the choice to use these labels since the originals are impossible to find. Although if anyone would have a few…it might be you😎
 
I love my restored WH. I had the cue maker make the handle thinner so it feels like a modern cue. And I added an OB shaft so it plays the way I like it. Complete with reproduction decal that looks damn near accurate to me. It looks great and I saved a piece of history. For under $1000, for cue and restore, what's not to like.

I would never sell this cue, ever, in a million years.

Oh, and a WH cue without the decal is a like a Ferrari without the prancing pony on the front hood ;)
 
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ChicagoRJ said:
I love my restored WH. I had the cue maker make the handle thinner so it feels like a modern cue. And I added an OB shaft so it plays the way I like it. Complete with reproduction decal that looks damn near accurate to me. It looks great and I saved a piece of history. For under $1000, for cue and restore, what's not to like.

I would never sell this cue, ever, in a million years.
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The reason the label bugs me is not so much the subtle differences in the new vs original labels. The color is very close, and of course originals varied in color also. It is set just a bit too high on the cue and it is noticeable when its in line with the others. I would much rather the cue maker had used the green label that the one piece had from the factory. I have a vintage 12 cue Brunswick rack and my dream is to have it full of original Hoppe cues, I am half way there!
 
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