Wrap Less Franklin SW on the cover of the 1st Edition of the Blue Book of Pool Cues

Greg,

I am the one that picked up that cue for Brad. I was going to Vegas and he told me you should be able to find one since they are made there and should be easier to find,,, (turns out that was wrong even back then). He also said I don't care what it looks like, I want a South West.
I was on the trip with my mother and she about sh*t when I told her how much Brad had given me to find a cue. Of course the only thing she knew about cues is that they are wood. I'm not going to say what it cost, even back then.
At the time, it was not known that all high points is a rare find. I thought that there were only 5 points but I haven't seen it for at least a decade. I played with that cue along with many other high end cues Brad collected over the years. I can personally attest that your is a solid hitting cue.
I picked that cue up in womens pro player Mary Kenniston's pool room, I believe it may have been called Cuetopia on Tropicana Ave. But it has been a long time ago. It was in a display case on the wall for sale. It was actually a little heavier than Brad wanted, but he took it.
He was pretty happy when I called to tell him I found one.
His purchase and the hit of the cues inspired me to later order a custom 6 pointer in 93 that plays great. I was quoted 4 1/2 yrs but it took 5 1/2. I also bought 2 satin finish cues since then and one of them has never been chalked.
Hope the cue gives you years of great playing.

Side note: when I was leaving the poolroom after buying that cue, a player came up and asked if I was interested in buying a South West break cue. this was back when the heavy break cues were the rage. It was a plain 24oz. cue that was basically looked like a satin finish. I closely inspected it and he was only asking $120. I didn't even try and bargain, I told him not interested, mainly because I didn't need a heavy break cue. So a few years later I call Laurie about something else and describe the break cue and she said yeah, I remember making that cue,,, we only made 1 like that..... I instantly felt like a moron!
Rick S.
 
Wrap Less SW

Rick, thank you so much for the history of my cue. Very pleased that Brad sent you to Vegas for this great treasure. I would love to speak to you on the phone. I will pm you, and leave my number.
Your story only adds more credence to the Provenance of this great cue made by Jerry Franklin!
Hope to talk soon,
Regards,
Greg
 
Wrap Less Franklin

Cuong, glad the cue put a smile on your face! Save the pics!
 
Wrap Less SW

Hey Rick, thank you for the compliment. It is a great cue, and a nice piece of history. I hope to see you at the Windy City Show! Take care.
Greg
 
I've never been a SouthWest fan,but I'll tell you if this came up for sale,
my wallet would open up real quick.Love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Wrap Less SW

Scsuxci, every thing in life can be for sale! Thank you for the compliment!
 
A big thank you to L.C. - Dan - Charles - Phil - Jive - Fatboy - Chris - Mike - Simon - Scott, and to all others who enjoyed my cue!
Special thanks to Jerry Franklin who put this Masterpiece together, and to Laurie, Mike, and Al the best crew at South West!!!!!
Simon, what is your side of the BET? -lol Maybe someone across the pond wants this Beauty!!!
You never know everything in life has it's price!
All joking aside, this cue is a real piece of Cue History from one of the greatest Cue Makers to ever sit behind the lathe!!! This I know for sure.
Regards to all,
Greg

ps: Eric, love the Xmas story, and I know what you mean about hanging out in a great makers shop! One of my favorite places to be!!! Give me a call would you! You never answer emails.


I'm sorry about the email's, I dont recall seeing them. I'm bad about checking email the past few months especially. My number is 702-241-8000, the absolute best way to get me is TXT messages to that number.

Glad you liked that Christmas Story, I enjoyed typing it, that was a nice day. My back had been so bad i hadnt left my house in probably 2-3 weeks and the pain lifted enough that i could leave. Back then It was common for me to be home for weeks at a time. That particular day the pain was bearable, I'm not into going to the mall, especially on Christmas eve. so I called SW and to my surprise Al picked up the phone. So I went over, it felt so good to be out of the house.


There is a book shelf there that Jerry kept lots of his books on, one book was about woods. It had their densities, where they are from, everything you can imagine about woods. Long before the days of the internet. Jerry loved that book, it was his "Bible" or so it seemed to me, because it was well worn and he would often take it out and show me something new he read in it. And back then 89-90 finding something after you read about it was no easy task. Somedays we would sit and talk about wood, the tones of woods for up to 2 hours. Jerry and both shared that passion. we talked less about "Fancy Cues" but they were his pet projects and I seen most of them he ever built. I didnt have the $$ to afford one. He said to be patient and someday i'd have one. sadly that didnt happen.


I have a very good memory of those conversations and what I learned about wood, I'm not a expert like him and many others here on AZB, but from a players perspective and time I have learned lots and continue to. Jerry was the first person I saw with a true hardcore passion for wood. He liked Goncalo Alves wood the best, I thought it was ugly but it does play nice, we talked about that wood for hours. I'm 90% sure that was the wood, there was one other he liked too that I cant recall the name of.


I have lots of other Jerry stories I have never told here, not because they are a secret. I just have always respected Laurie's privacy. I don't think she will get mad about the Christmas story or wood stories. Sometime i'll ask her if I can share some more stuff about the fancy cues, and other SW history. And yes I wait on the list like everyone else for cues, the only favor's I get is tip work real fast, Al and Mickey take good care of me. But I wait like everyone else for cues, it wouldnt be right to bump someone to get a cue fast. Jerry was very honorable about that, and I respect that.


I miss Jerry, I think of him often, hard not to-every time I see a SW I remember Jerry. I also think of everyone else at the shop, all great people who have made a huge contribution to pool world wide. SW cues are a big thing to me and many others. Its a great story and I was lucky to have a front row seat all these years.


best
eric:smile:
 
Wrap Less SW

Thank you for all the compliments, and quite a few Solid offers if I decide to sell this beauty!
I am seriously considering a few, but I have a few other Franklin's I think will go first.
Thanks,
Greg
 
Haven't ventured over this way in a while.

Beauty for sure Greg. Don't sell it!!!

Put it in the safe for your kids.

Best,

Russ.....
 
Wrap Less SW

Hey Russ, for now she is locked up for my Son's, but you never know!
Bob, you don't like no flat face wood to wood, you will never leave TS & MC, die hard for life!
Thanks for complimenting.
 
Back
Top