Click here to add text.

Q & A and Talk Column

  Hello Chris,

   My name is Frank. I am writing from My aunt's email, Sally. Hard to confuse us if you saw us, hah. Anyhow, I have had a great time looking over your site and learning much about Palmer cues. You must have a wonderful collection.

  I bought mine approx. 1978 in San Jose, Ca from a Billiard Supply shop, I think it was called Universal Billiards. It was right next to a popular nite club called The Saddle Rack.

So it is a little beat up from use. I hung out at California Billiards in San Jose and was told by their repair guy that it was a very valuable cue and I should take better care of it. I had him order me two new shafts from Palmer at the time. Dorothy Wise was one of the owners of California Billiards and I got to know her some. What a sweet lady. She has shot with this cue. I redid the wrap myself with fish line way back. The original linen got real nasty and broke. I want very much to have it redone proper. Also, if it is advisable????? should I get it refinished? I hold off on that, but it has a few dings as you might expect. I only wish I had given it the care it deserves from the start. It is 21 oz and came with one regular 13mm shaft and one smaller dia snooker shaft. It is the sweetest hitting cue I have ever played with. I am so addicted to this cue and still use it most of the time.

I saw one cue on your site that has a similar flat and mother of pearl inlay at the Butt Cap. However it was from the 1st catalog and I doubt mine was made that far back. I know you may be able to tell from looking at it, so I am sending you some colaged pics to check it out. I made the case myself recently with Oak stock from Weyerhauser/hardware store. I cannot find a case of this kind offered on the net, but your site taught me much about that as well. My original case was kind of cheapo, Butt in the middle and two shafts. It was plywood box, plain black vinyl with no corner protectors, and red velour inside. I think they had it in a cheapo expecting the buyer to provide a better case. It has a similar handle and look to some of the Palmer cases you have on your site though, just no name and cheaper looking hardware. I don't have that with me to show as I am on the road visiting my aunt right now.

I am the type to make my own things if I can, especially wood, so I prototyped the wood box and holders as I went. The handle is from a computer frame. I save all kinds of junk also. I appreciate anything you can tell me about this cue and you are welcome to these or any other pics I can provide. I know it is not a fancy one, but I don't mind the simplicity.

Thank you for your time and knowledge. Your site is unique and covers a much needed subject. I keep a pic of my weinerdog, Tootsie, inside the case to remind me there is one other creature on earth more devoted to playing ball than me! hah.

Frank

October 31, 2005  Frank writes...

Model H

Frank,

If it's two things that the Palmer Collectors like, it's wiener dogs and Model H's.

Your cue is a second catalog Palmer "H" made in the mid - 1970's. Your particular cue has a Gus Szamboti forearm and butt sleeve. Yes, it should be restored by a pro and you wont' recognize it when it's done.  Keeping it in the original finish only helps the value if it's in good shape. My own personal rule of thumb is, if a cue is 70% condition or better,  leave it alone. Yours needs more work than that, so it's time to get it re-done.

He's my new Model H page: 

My Model H  was made earlier - in 1968, by Burton Spain before Gus Szamboti started making the parts for Palmer. Your points are the same as mine except they will be a little longer. Yours is a true second catalog cue all the way down to the black pearl collars.

Because they're glued to wood, the pearl rings can swell (or even sometimes shrink) which they've done in this case. In most cases, they can just be sanded down and look like new in the refinish process. In any case, they can be repaired or replaced if necessary. They are black pearl plastic and the material is still available. The veneer colors, which are badly faded now, will come back. Yes, you should probably retire the cue. Your cue has a lot of history. I would hate to see the original MOP crack in the butt. I can see a small split in the butt cap - I would just leave it that way. I would leave as much original as you can.

One last thing. the case that came with your cue originally which you described was probably just a cheap imported case. The Palmer cases had fairly decent hardware and some meat to them (they were hardwood), the cheaper imported cases were thin with cheap hardware.

There are a couple of people I can recommend for the refinish. You want an expert.

Thanks for writing - if you have any questions please let me know.

All the best,

Chris

  The Collector Response...