Balabushka - GBTGK (Detail)

George Balabushka - All-original Titlist blank cue, built circa mid'60's (GB-TGK) .

This classic Balabushka cue comes with a history - it was owned by George “Fez” Kasem, who traveled on the road with “Cowboy” Jimmy Moore and other great players during the 1960's. “Fez” was a pretty good player himself, but he was better known in those days as a backer for Jimmy and many other great players of the time. The cue has stayed in the family for nearly 40 years, passed down from “Fez” to his grandson. “Fez” is 90-years-old but still has sharp memories of his days on the road.

Every great player of the era on the East Coast had to have a Balabushka. Although movie stars made pilgrimages to his shop to pick up their cues, George preferred to make cues for the best players, many of whom he considered friends.

When George Balabushka began making cues in 1959, his first cues were adaptations of Brunswick Titlists, a familiar starting point for many cuemakers. He particularly enjoyed working with the Titlist blanks, as they had a full splice and did not require a full cut between the wrap and forearm. In the early sixties, George experimented with some of the plastic rings popular at the time. He also worked with aluminum rings, marbleized plastic, and plastic windows - the same materials being used by Frank Paradise, Doc Fry, Tad Kohara, Rich Cues - and Palmer, who sold the parts to the other cue makers. George continued to use Titlist blanks off and on throughout his career, although not as often when he had blanks available from Burton Spain and Gus Szamboti.

This cue has been dated by the materials used. First, by the style and materials of the butt sleeve, similar examples of which George is known to have made in the early-to-mid 60's. From 1959 to around 1964, solid black linen phenolic joint collars were used. Most of the cues from 1965 on had a nickel silver ring added. Early cues had nylon or rayon wraps, and some had no wrap at all. Once George switched to Cortland Irish linen it became his standard wrap.

Description:

Straight-grain maple forearm (Brunswick Titlist blank), four full-spliced rosewood points with purple, aqua blue, brown and natural maple veneers. Butt sleeve is composed of a plastic window bordered by three stacked rings of gray metallic-looking polyester sandwiched in between black plastic. Inside the window are five alternating bands of black plastic and aluminum. Piloted stainless steel joint, 5/16-14 stainless steel joint pin, black fibre joint and shaft collars and nickel silver trim rings.

The cue is sound; there are no rattles, as are often found in similar cues by other makers.

Butt cap is white Delrin with a reddish-brown Brunswick rubber bumper secured with an Allen screw (standard Balabushka bumper). Wrap is original light green Cortland Irish linen showing expected patina typical of a 40 year-old cue, darkened with age.

Two original 13 mm shafts with brass inserts and what appear to be the original 7/8-inch ivory ferrules. Shafts are both played, with some chalk staining. There are no dings or dents. One shaft has a slight roll, but both are playable. Tips are old LePros.

Overall length of cue is 57 inches, with the butt and shaft equal lengths of approximately 28-1/2 inches. Overall weight of cue is 18-3/4 to 19-1/8 ounces, depending on shaft used. The butt weighs 15-1/8 oz. (420g). The 12.55mm shafts are 3-5/8 oz. (106g) and 4 oz. (112g) respectively.

Good original lacquer finish on the forearm in 85% condition showing some overall wear. There is no exposed wood.

This is an attractive cue in desirable all-original condition - a classic made by one of the best-known and most important cue makers who ever lived. It would be an asset to any serious collection.

The cue will come with a Letter of Authenticity and a letter from George “Fez” Kasem.

PRICE: $7,000 BUY / Contact Us