WTF Did I Just Buy? Old Cue ID Help...

[Hunter]

Hi all,

Well, I hope everyone had a great holiday season!

I just bought this cue and have absolutely no idea who it was made by. It appears to have a lot of features that you would see on old cues, but the features look like they were a compilation of several makers. I don't have it yet, but it seems to be a well made cue. Appears to be at least 40-50 years old...

The cue initially seemed to be a Doc Fry, as I had a Fry that had kind of the same ringwork in the butt (just not nearly as much as this cue). The joint seems to be reminiscent of Harvey Martin or a 1913 Brunswick with the pin in the shaft. The little round bumper looks like an early Viking. The red ring at the very end of the buttcap looks like Fedunka, Paradise, or George Gay. The wrap is twine and still tightly wound and in great shape.

Any guesses? Your input is greatly appreciated!

Steve

 

[macguy]

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View attachment 85322Hi all,

Well, I hope everyone had a great holiday season!

I just bought this cue and have absolutely no idea who it was made by. It appears to have a lot of features that you would see on old cues, but the features look like they were a compilation of several makers. I don't have it yet, but it seems to be a well made cue. Appears to be at least 40-50 years old...

The cue initially seemed to be a Doc Fry, as I had a Fry that had kind of the same ringwork in the butt (just not nearly as much as this cue). The joint seems to be reminiscent of Harvey Martin or a 1913 Brunswick with the pin in the shaft. The little round bumper looks like an early Viking. The red ring at the very end of the buttcap looks like Fedunka, Paradise, or George Gay. The wrap is twine and still tightly wound and in great shape.

Any guesses? Your input is greatly appreciated!

Steve

Are you sure that screw belongs in the shaft and is not just stuck there. Is there an insert in the butt for the screw? I say this because the screw does not seem to have any starter threads and would be prone to cross threading.

I will take a guess and say it could be an old "National" cue. There were also some Gandy cues that had that same look.

 

[Arnot Wadsworth]

*** Is there an insert in the butt for the screw? I say this because the screw does not seem to have any starter threads and would be prone to cross threading. QUOTE]

Maybe us old-timers always knew that if you turn the shaft counter-clockwise until the pin drops off the thread and then start screwing clock-wise you will not ever cross thread. Works of all nuts and bolts.

Good Cuemaking,

 

[macguy]

*** Is there an insert in the butt for the screw? I say this because the screw does not seem to have any starter threads and would be prone to cross threading. QUOTE]

Maybe us old-timers always knew that if you turn the shaft counter-clockwise until the pin drops off the thread and then start screwing clock-wise you will not ever cross thread. Works of all nuts and bolts.

Good Cuemaking,

I said that because I have had people bring me cues where the screw was stuck in the shaft and they thought it was supposed to be like that. If you zoom in on the screw, (on my mac I can do that) it doesn't seem to even have a bevel. It looks uneven and rough.

 

[Hunter]

I think you might be right about the pin. There isn't anything that I can see that would facilitate a good start on the pin engagement. I should have the cue today and I'll post some more pics. It just doesn't seem to have the standard look that a true pin in shaft would have (Spain or Martin, etc.). I have had all kinds of suggestions and have done everything I know to determine the maker, but can't as of yet. It definitely has a style that should be familiar, but so far all the leads have been unsuccessful. Any more thoughts?

Thanks for all your input!

Steve

 

[Hunter]

Hi again,

I just got the cue and I am actually pretty pleasantly flabbergasted! The pin is in the shaft and looks like it belongs there (see pics). It is glued into the shaft wood and has a bevel on the end that I couldn't see in the pics that screws very nicely into brass threads in the butt.

The cue is obviously very old but in great shape. The rings are flush with the joint and are made of a chalk white phenolic with an obvious fabric finish that doesn't look like modern LBM. I thought there were a few marks on the butt from looking at the pics, but they were just gum like you'd see when you removed a label and they came right off. The old twine wrap is in better shape than I've ever seen (and I've had lots of old Brunswicks, etc. from the early part of the century). The little red acrylic band at the bottom of the butt is something I've never seen the likes of either. It looks kind of like the bottom plate of a Fry I had, the ones that Abe Rich and Doc shared, except a deep red color. It looks like the bumper is glued in, so I haven't checked it for the penny that Fry sometimes used.

I can't help but believe that this cue was made by one of the better makers of the time. The quality is much better than Viking, Adam, Gandy, etc., and I have a feeling it's older than any of those. Now it's just a matter of finding out "who done it". If you have any other ideas, please give me a shout!

Thanks,

Steve

 

[Hunter]

I took the mystery cue out for a little table time last night. It rolled absolutely flat as a pancake and played almost identical to a pre-date Tad I used to own. Solid as a rock. Old school big butt, but it's 59 1/2" long! Next step, the Twilight Zone...

Anybody else with an idea?


Steve

 

[Arnot Wadsworth]

I said that because I have had people bring me cues where the screw was stuck in the shaft and they thought it was supposed to be like that. If you zoom in on the screw, (on my mac I can do that) it doesn't seem to even have a bevel. It looks uneven and rough.

You say what?