[Pelican]

For a long time now I have said I was going to post some pictures of my collection. I am no big time collector but have managed to acquire a few fairly nice cues. I have promised to do this for so long that some of the posters that wanted to see them do not post anymore. Maybe they are lurking and will come back and join us. Well, here we go.......

This first group has top to bottom- Richard Helmsetter Model 98-3 a level 5 cue with mother of pearl inlay - next is a Meucci 95 series "Hook" - and at the bottom is a Meucci 333-4 w/ 2 shafts and a Meucci It's Geroge style case. I played with the 333-4 for some time and sent it back to be refinished. When it came back it looked so good I put it up.


The second group are all Dale Perry cues. On top is a 1of1 Ebony and Micarta - next Birdseye Maple, Ebony, and Tulip - on the bottom a 1of1 gold signature Camotillo, Micarta, and Turquoise. This was sent back and had the joint changed to a radial pin and fitted with a 30" shaft. I just sold this cue on eBay. I would have omitted it but the picture was already done.


Group three has - on top a 2000 Russ Espiritu model R22 - an early Jerry Pechauer J2 - and on the bottom a Huebler AS-H2 Jump Break cue


In group 4 we have a very interesting cue with a gambling history. On top is a set that belonged to John "LilJon" Macias. There is his playing cue an Ariel Carmeli dtd 1/03, a conversion cue he used for breaking, a Bunjee Jump cue, and it is all carried in an Instroke leather case. John is an action player from the word go and these cue have been involved in 5 figure play many many times. - next is a Lucasi that was the first cue my son, Will, used when he reached a level of play to warrant a 'good' cue - on the bottom is an old Richard Helmsetter.


In group 5 we have all Leonard Bludworth cues. On top is a Bludworth Sneaky Pete that I had autographed in Dec of 2004 by the WPBA 2003 Rooki of the Year, Sarah Rousey - next is a nice higher grade Bludworth that I found on eBay - on the bottom is the cue Leonard made for Grady Mathews. Grady played with this cue for two or three years, in fact this is the cue he is holding in the Simms ads in the billiard magazines.


Group 6 has three really nice pieces. On top is a David Hodges parrot cue "White Spades" - in the middle a Tim Scruggs 7 of 50 dtd 10/23/93 featuring gold and ivory inlay - on the bottom, it looks kinda plain, but, it's a 1969 TAD !!!.


Saving some of the best for the end, group 7 has three Richard Black cues. On top is number 8 of 30 of Mr. Black's "30th Anniversary" cue. The cue is ebony, ivory, and silver. It came with a nice Whitten case with the 3oth anniversary logo on the lid and it has a sleeve to protect the case. - in the middle is a 1986 Black made of Koa with silver inlay work and ebony windows. - on the bottom is a 1991 Black Baron, this is my playing cue.


OK, group 8 is the last of it. On top is a Ray Schuler SC-22S with floating points. This is signed by Ray as it was made prior to his passing. - in the middle a beautiful Dave Barenbrugge made in 2002. Few folks can do butterfly splices like Dave. - And for the grande finale::: My pride and joy - a Burton Spain. It has the two orginal shafts that are 11.4mm and 11.7mm. This is Burton's model number 31. It was ordered in August of 1986. When I had the third shaft made by Joel Hercek he sent me copies of the original order and the invoice that Burton prepared. Notice that on Burton's cues the butt joint has the female thread and the shaft joint has the male thread. Don't want to sound like I am bragging but this is a very valuable cue to a collector.


Well folks, that's my cues. Some are nice and some are average but I enjoy collecting all types. I want to perhaps move a couple of the lower end ones and replace with something better in the future. My next major purchase will be a Joel Hercek. Sorry I took so long to get this posted. Hope y'all liked seein' them.

Later, Pel

[gian323]

very nice

I'm jealous

[Pelican]

Thanks gian. As you know this is not something one accumulates in a short time. I have been gathering up cues for about 5 years now.

If anyone sees one they would like a better picture of to perhaps help identify something they have or are interested in, I will be happy to email a pic of an individual cue.

Later, Pel

[Chuck]

In five years, I've only bought four cues. One for myself, then a jump break, and two fro my girlfriend. I can't imagine having half the collection you do Pel. I wouldn't know what to do with them all. It is a nice collection though, I must say that.

[Pelican]

Truthfully Chuck, you don't really do anything with them. They just sit in a safe. Kinda like buying a bank CD, only prettier :-D

Later, Pel

[Pelican]

Thanks Sleuth. I enjoy collecting them. Just wish there was some way to display them and still have them safe from bandits.

After I get the Hercek, I want to look at up and coming makers. You know, kinda like the next Tim Scruggs or Richard Black, etc. but before they are famous. Boy, wouldn't you have loved to be able to get a Bushka when he first got started. :-o :-)

I appreciate your compliment, Pel

[FASTLARRY]

Pel said: wouldn't you have loved to be able to get a Bushka when he first got started.

I did, I paid $600 for it with 6 shafts. Don't even try to tell me what it is now worth, because it is not for sale.

That's the problem, which is why my buska sits in a bank vault and I play with a Japanese copy of it.

There are some places I will wear my real Rolex into and others my $230 chinese fake copy. How many pool halls can you take a real buska into and not risk being shot in the parking lot over it.
People who have expensive guns and cues do like to share their love of these with others and that is normal. Its not bragging, its sharing. But if you show and tell too many people, it gets around and sooner or later if they know where you live some scum bum just out of the joint and down and out is going to hear about it in some bar, damn you should see all these expensive cues old Joe has. He now wants to know where old Joe is so he can go by and see them too, or break in when old Joe is at work. After they are robbed and cleaned out, most replace them if they were smart enough to have the collection insured with pictures and receipts of where they were bought at. They now buy a serious gun safe which takes a real pro and not some punk with a screwdriver and crow bar to get into. Just be careful who you show your stuff to. My father in law thought his gun collection was safe because of his 3 bird dogs he kept inside. They crawled through the doggie dog and shot all 3 dogs, then walked out the front door with his pride and joy collection. He replaced the entire collection and they came back several months later and did the same thing to him a 2nd time. He was a wounded war hero in Europe in WWII and he killed many men in combat when he defended Bastone in the battle of the Bulge. He said if he caught them a 3rd time in his place what he would do to them would be slow and mid evil. He laid for them, but they were smart enough not to come back. Coming back the 2nd time was really risky, but they do that a lot because they figure you are not looking for that. They read the obits and find out when you are at the cemetery and come by with a truck and clean out your entire house.
A thief has no honor, they are a simple predator with out a conscience. When they get busted, the only thing they regret, was getting caught. Most of them are only in your house 3 to 5 minutes, they go right to where most hide the good stuff.

It's the old story, if they want in, they get in, they got inside the brinks vault remember.

Oh but you had ADT, right, that crap could not keep vunder dawg out. It gives you the warm fuzzies I know. Even on expensive homes with serious door and window sensors, they just go into your back yard, cut a hole thru the siding, kick in the sheet rock and walk right in. It takes only a few minutes. They can do the same thing through your roof. Never trade in that old car, keep it sitting in the drive way, it makes it look like you are at home when you are out. Shut all the blinds and keep the TV or radio playing when you leave. Keep a good guard dog inside and good luck. Keep a lot of lights out side that come on by motion, I have 6 on each side of my house, plus signs that say there are security cameras, which you can see when you come up my drive way. One camera is high up in a tree in a bird house and nobody can know or see where it is. Come into my place, smile, thank you. When I leave the front of my house is fully illuminated by 4 lights. Walk up, 4 more come on.
I also have ADT and a 2nd back up system no body knows about. If you get inside, you have to deal with 6 dogs and Max is 125 lbs and has the power of a wolf. You better pray I get to you before Max does.

Inside we do not mess with you, we use shot guns. Break in, you die, that's the drill. When I fire off 3 rounds of turkey shot, you aint gonna make the hospital

Atlanta is the murder capital of the country and we take no crap off of criminals here and our laws allow us to use deadly force when our lives or homes are threatened.

You make your self, less of a fat easy target and pray they go for the guy who is wide open and easy. A predator always hunts the easiest and weakest prey.



[ Edited by FASTLARRY on 2007/7/13 13:07 ]

[Pelican]

Quote

A predator always hunts the easiest and weakest prey

Just like on the plains of Africa.

Here's a link for a real one if anyone has a few bucks to spend

Bushka Cue

[Leftoverchinese]

Nice collection! Are there any good stories associated with any of the cues? I know you said the 'liljohn' cue was used in some gambling. I was just wondering if you knew any of the back stories.

[Pelican]

Hey LOC, sorry I took so long to reply but didn't see your post until now.

As you said, the Carmeli has a very extensive history as a road player. When it comes to action players Lil John is right up there in the top group of gamblers.

The Bludworth that belonged to Grady has been involved in more than enough action to qualify as a 'gamblin' cue. No telling how many one pocket matches Grady played with it.


An interesting thing about one of the Richard Blacks - the 30th anniversary is 1/2 inch shorter that it is supposed to be. Out of the 30 cues Mr. Black made for the anniversary only 6 were over length cues. Of the 6 five were for customers that had bought previous anniversary models (20 and 25). I was fortunate enough to get the only one not spoken for. A few weeks after I had committed to buy Mr. Black called and said there was a minor problem. When the machinery was set up all the blanks were cut 1/2 inch shorter that they were supposed to be. He asked if I still wanted the cue or if I wanted a refund. I said "I surely want it now". He provided me with a letter stating what had happened. To me it is like a mint mark error on a coin, makes it that much more desirable.

A lot of the cues were acquired via eBay. The Burton Spain has a kinda funny story on how I got it. An antique dealer was auctioning a whole bunch of items on eBay. In the stuff were individual auctions on about a dozen or so cues. These were all out of an estate. Most of them he had no clue as to what they were and the Spain was one of those. I studied the pictures and compared them to the reference materials I have. I decided that this one particular cue was a Burton Spain and I knew it was highly desirable. I put in a minimum bid just to get it on 'my ebay' page and set back to watch it for a couple of days. It started attracting some attention and near the end the bidding was getting pretty strong. I left the store and came home and sat at the computer and watched it. With about 3 hours left it's high bid was $2900. I told my son who was visiting that "What the hell, I'm gonna try 3000. Hell, everybody on eBay runs stuff up in the last few minutes anyway so I'll get outbid" So with a little over an hour to go I got the high bid at $3000. We watched and watched and watched. When there was less than a minute to go I said, "I'll give it enough time so that when I refresh the auction will be over and we'll see how much it got ran up in the final seconds". Well, as you know, it didn't get run up and I won it. About an hour after it ended my wife came home from work and said, "Honey, I hope you don't get mad but there was the cutest jacket at the store and I bought it. It was $40." I simply said, "Baby, I am happy that you found a jacket you liked and bought it. Now, while you are setting down let me tell you about the cue I bought."

Later, Pel



.

[headmuses]

Pel,
Very nice collection indeed. Wish I had a couple of those in my arsenal. By the way there is a Richard Black on Ebay right now, just to a search on "Vintage Richard Black Custom Pool Cue" and it will show up. And no it is not me selling it, but if I did have it, I would be keeping it for sure.

Cheers
Headmuses

[gian323]

A lot of shooters in my pool hall use Arial Carmeneli. I even have 2-3 guys that work/used to work for him shoot with me. It's an ok cue. I've tried it, but I don't know what I like in a cue yet, so I'll save spending a couple grand for one of those suckers

[Pelican]

Headmuses, thanks for the heads up on the cue. Couldn't stand it, had to place a bid.

Gian, you don't have to spend 2K to get a good shooting cue. As long as you are comfortable with a cue and have confidence while using it that is all that matters. Makes no difference if it cost 10 bucks or 10 grand. If it works for you that is what is important.

Later guys, Pel

[headmuses]

Oh, I hope the cue is good and I didnt lead you down the garden path.

Headmuses

[Leftoverchinese]

HAHA, I would have loved to see the look on your wifes face when you told her that. My best friend's Dad bought a brand new Saturn in 91 which was thier first year. The problem was that his wife was planning on buying a new leather couch setup for the living room. He came home with a shit-eating grin on his face proclaiming that he was driving her new couch, lol. I assure you that it didn't go over well. :-D

[Pelican]

He probably didn't get none fer a month.

[The_Woim]

Pelican, love your collection!

A Burton Spain? A Richard Black? Other great cues?

You got class, Pelican! You've collected some good ones!

I have a Meucci HOF from 1989 with the Meucci Original on the butt with block letters. I also have a new Paul Dayton C0012 - Purpleheart with points and inlays! Great cue!

I played with the Meucci for years, but won't any longer. My son uses it.

If I was going to buy a production cue, I'd get a Joss - hits stiff and solid like the Dayton.

A Jeff Olnay cue would be great to have.

Yours Very Truly,

The Woim

[Pelican]

Thanks Woim. I look at them like money in the bank. Actually some are increasing better than money in the bank. The Black 30th Anniversary has about doubled in 3 years. I don't know of a bank you could put money in and do that. Still haven't heard from Joel Hercek about the cue he is supposed to do for me. Would love to have a highly scrimshawed Paul Drexler too.

Later, Pel

[pool2da]

Pel,

I am envious of all of your cues. I have just started back into pool so my collection is "0". But I have had a lot of other collections in different things in my life span and it is a completely different feeling when you get one of those rare opportunities to get a hold of a piece of history especially if you find one of them bargains that the seller was unaware. Not that you are trying to take advantage of the seller,( well yes I think you are) but it makes that valuable a little more special. I was so glad when mamma got into beanie babies a while back, that made it okay for me to do my thing. About like the coat, but I did not get off that cheap. I am still trying to get rid of all those beanie babies.