Would anyone with access to the 3rd edition blue book help with value of Helmstetter

J

justinb386

Banned
I do not have a 3rd edition blue book of cues, so I was wondering if anyone on here (with access to the 3rd edition blue book of cues) would be willing to look up and see if my Helmstetter (it is a Model 87-10) is in the blue book, and tell me what they value the cue at (in 70% condition).

I have been told that the cue retailed for $540, and am very curious if the cue has gone down in value over the years, and by how much.

The cue really needs a refinish and a re wrap, but I do not want to pay the $125 (plus an extra $30 for shipping) if I will only end up being able to get maybe $200 to $250 tops for the cue after the refinish.

So I just want to be sure that the cue is worth being refinished.

I hope that someone on here knows (or can find out from the 3rd edition blue book of cues) the current value of the cue (it may be in 70% condition), and if the value would jump up more than (or at least) the $155 that it would cost me to get it back to new condition.

By the way, I have googled the model numper of the cue, and I can't find any info about it.

I would be very grateful for any help.

Thanks.
 

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I have a 3rd edition, but couldn't spot a cue exactly like yours in either Helmstetter or Adam listings.

So, a wild ass guess based on a similar looking cue.
98%-$525
90%-$345
70%-$255

Like I said, not exactly like yours, but should put you in the ballpark...I hope.
 
I do not think that they have a record of my cue, unless the $5 is for a personal appraisal (of any cue that they may not have in their 3rd edition blue book). Thanks.
 
The fact that you asked about the Blue Book suggests to me you have communicated with a specific person or perhaps have a sale pending with them. Be careful.

As for the price on the cue you are selling, I think it is already more than fair.


NOTE: Forget the Blue Book or anything else regarding this. Please hear what I am about to say. You will NOT improve your investment if you refinish that pool cue. I have no doubt about that. Sell it as it is and I wouldn't take less than the price you advertised either.
 
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That's a nice old Helmstetter, I like the design. How bad is the wrap? If you can keep that old school linen on there I think it makes it more desirable. Unfortunately in this market, even in pristine condition which it sounds like it's not, you're probably looking at that $350 range, give or take.
 
Chopdoc said:
The fact that you asked about the Blue Book suggests to me you have communicated with a specific person or perhaps have a sale pending with them. Be careful.

As for the price on the cue you are selling, I think it is already more than fair.


NOTE: Forget the Blue Book or anything else regarding this. Please hear what I am about to say. You will NOT improve your investment if you refinish that pool cue. I have no doubt about that. Sell it as it is and I wouldn't take less than the price you advertised either.
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All of this is the best advice you're going to get. Also, the bluebook isn't really all that amazingly accurate. There are wild variations between actual value (what someone is willing to pay for it) and bluebook value (a dated value that takes very little into account...i.e. economy, fluctuations in a specific cue/builder's popularity). Refinish it if you want to keep it, but you'll be hard pressed to make any more profit selling it after it's refinished considering the cost to refinish.

I agree that your asking price would be fair for both the seller and buyer.

In reality, a cue is only worth what someone is willing to pay for at the moment you're trying to sell it.
 
The cue has not sold yet. I still have it, but I forgot to bump my other thread. The guy seemed interested in buying the cue, but I never heard back from him after he sent me a pm. I gave him my phone number (because he wanted to ask me a question about the cue), but he never called me. I really do love the cue, and I love the way is shoots. The wrap in not really in that bad of condition (just half of 1 strand appears to have come off some how). I was thinking that the cue is not really worth refinishing, because I have a bad feeling that it would not sell for over $250 (if I am lucky) even if it was in brand new condition (after being refinished and a new wrap put on). I have $160 invested in the cue, so a rewrap and refinish would put me at over $300 invested in the cue. I do not think I would ever be able to get $300 for the cue. I will just try to sell it in its current condition. Thanks everyone for your help.

pwd72s said:
Looks like it's sold...$175 seems to be a more than fair price..
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"I think a mark of a good expert is knowing when his expertise has been exceeded. That's a fancy way of saying I don't know enough to give you a direct answer. The Blue Book of Pool Cues has little to say on the subject and I failed at locating some comparable sales or photographs to compare. However, according to the Blue Book, "if you have an Adam cue [Richard Helmstetter founded Adams and they are listed together] that needs further identification or repair, contact..."

Mr. Donald Spetkar
25 Hutcheson Pl.
Lynbrook, NY 11563
800-645-2162

I found this on another page. Looks like a fair deal to me. I am cue rich and cash poor so I will have to pass. Good luck, John
 
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