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Q & A and Talk Column

Chris,

         

I bought this Palmer from a guy (I believe his name was Eddie)  at Palmer Billiards about 19 years ago while looking for a cue for my cousin. The cue was made for Jack Colavita. Jack played with it for 16 years . He had a deal with Palmer that he had to return the cue if he were going to use another cuemaker.  Jack started playing with a Richard Black.

I knew Jack very well , we use to play in a tournament every week next door to Palmer Billiards . The night I walked into West End Billiards with that cue many guys wanted to buy it. Tony Robles still asks about it. I haven't used it in about  seven years in fear of thievery or damage. The cue is in excellent condition. Paul Rubino knows the cue and Dick Abbot once had it hanging in his booth at Valley Forge.

Anyway  the cue is made of black ebony, the work in it is  French veneer, mother of pearl.   The eight ball is ivory, the shafts are thin. It has 2 new ferrules, I was playing with the cue and both previous ferrules  had cracks, which were put on by Ted Harris at Valley Forge the same year  Dick had the cue in his booth . 

I forwarded you the pictures through my friend Richie  ( RJH Cues) who I gave the cue to sell for me. I saw your site on AZ billiards  and enjoyed looking at it.

Pleasure talking to you and have a nice day.

Michael

December 10, 2005 Michael Writes ...

Michael,

That is one cool custom Palmer! I forwarded your letter and photographs to Peter Balner because I had no information whatsoever on this cue.

He confirmed that Eddie was a young salesman who worked for Palmer during this time period and also acknowledged the arrangement with Jack Colavita.  Peter believed that he recalled his father made this cue himself ,  which would date it prior to 1971 and that it indeed is a unique, one-of-a-kind Palmer.

It is unusual to find any Palmer with french inlay, or inlays other than French cut diamonds and dots. This inlay technique is known as "marquetry",  where veneers are used to create pictures from wood, such as the flower on the forearm.

It is also unusual to find ivory in a Palmer, as genuine mother of pearl was the inlay of choice.

This cue is truly unlike any Palmer I have seen. I will refer any interested parties to you.

Thanks for writing!

Chris

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