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"Some helpful hints to identify a BALABUSHKA cue"

Since 1978, the year I opened "George's Billiard Supply" , as my personal tribute to George Balabushka, this question has perplexed cue collectors, cuemakers, and pool players around the globe. George Balabushka was a great craftsman and has always been one of my all-time favorite cuemakers. As you read on, your confusion will be cleared away with facts based upon my observations and examinations; extensive conversations with numerous cuemakers and cue collectors; measuring, studying, and documenting; buying, selling, trading, and collecting Balabushka cues since 1974. For many years my personal collection always included at least 20 Balabushka cues and at one time exceeded 40 Balabushka cues. In addition to those facts, I have bought and sold 100's of Balabushka cues and handled nearly 400 Balabushka cues.

George Balabushka was a great craftsman and possesed a tremendous understanding of wood and its' properties. He had a gift in his hands, heart, and head that could not be passed onto another. George was very methodical and always strived for perfection. His cues are testimonials that he reached a level of perfection that should be revered. The name George Balabushka will always remain an integral part in the history of pocket billiards for generations to come.

A great man is gone, yet every time you see a Balabushka cue his legacy lives on as the greatest cuemaker that ever lived.
THE JOINT and JOINT PIN

The majority of Balabushka joints were stainless steel, 1" in length.

I have also seen them in brass, and heard of them in ivory.

The pin extends approximately 3/4" above the joint as shown.

The majority of pins are 5/16-14 threaded.
THE FOREARM
The distance between the top of the joint and the top of the wrap varies beteween 11 1/4" and 12 1/2". George Balabushka utilized 4 different forearms; Brunswick Titlists, Burton Spain, John Davis and Gus Szamboti. The majority of these were 4 color veneers and he built a small handful of 5 color veneer blanks supplied by Burton Spain and John Davis. The prong wood could be oak, mahogany, rosewood or ebony. Georges early cues were Brunswick Titlist conversions. In the mid 1960's he began using Burton Spain blanks, in the late 1960's John Davis blanks, and in the early 1970's began using Gus Szamboti blanks. As George added new sources for blanks he still continued to use the others.
FOREARM INLAYS and BUSHKA RINGS
To the left are various forearm inlays and rings.
THE WRAP
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The length of the wrap varies from 12 1/2 to 13 1/2 inches. On Georges early cues the wrap was either nylon or silk. He then discovered Cortland #9 green spot irish linen and made that his wrap of choice. On rare occasion he would do a leather wrap. George was considered the best "leatherman in the business", according to Jimmy Caras, and many other top professional players at that era.. I have seen very few examples of wrapless cues, one of which was carved.
THE BUTT SLEEVE
The length of the backend varies from 2 1/4" to 2 3/4" inches. Balabushka sleeves were built using plastics, acrylics, bakelights, clear windows,or hardwoods. Although George was limited to mother of pearl dots and notched diamonds, he had the ability to take simple patterns and make them elegant. George was also creative utilizing wood veneering as both inlays and ringwork in many of his early and later. cues. Many of George's designs are timeless and still used today.
THE BUTT CAPand RUBBER BUMPER
The butt cap is customarily milk white delrin approximately 1 1/2". Age may discolor the delrin. In the picture to the left are 3 distinct styles; Hoppe style which has no bumper, black or white delrin "plug" style, and the most widely recognized red rubber bumper, which has been considered a Balabushka trademark.
THE BUTT CAP and HARDWARE
Balabushka used the reddish brown Brunswick rubber bumper which has become one of his trademarks. As you can see in the picture, George traditionally wrapped them in masking tape. The weight bolt was customarily a 5/16 x 18 screw and a small socket head cap screw held the rubber bumper securely in place. When you remove the rubber bumper you should see a groove in the delrin around the perimeter which was created by the forstner bit. There should be an insert of phenolic, brass, or aluminum for the weight bolt to thread into.
 
UNIQUE BALABUSHKA MATERIALS and DESIGNS
The mysterious gold / black and green / red glitter band material has been exclusive to Balabushka cues. There are only 2 other cues not built by George with this material that I know of, one is the second cue from the left. George is accredited with being one of the first to utilize what has become known as the railroad track pattern, shown in the second cue from the right.

The above information is shared with you readers in the hopes that it will help you identify a real Balabushka cue. Although this does not include every possibility, it is intended to be used as a guideline.The facts stated herein have been compiled from the hundreds of Balabushka's I have handled over the past 30 years. Certainly, I have not seen all of George's work, but feel confident that what I have here is a good representation of what he did most of the time. For further information I strongly recommend the Billiard Encyclopedia and the Blue Book of pool cues. These are the two most informative books on cuemaking and cuemakers. I hope you enjoy reading this information as much as I have enjoyed preparing it for you. All of the Balabushka's in the pictures I currently own, or have owned at one time or another.