What would you do? - 10.25.2007.1

Just a note on something interesting that happened to me recently. It happened while I was at a pool tournament this week. [If you don’t know I’ve been playing pool for 26 years and I’m not shabby.]Like many enthusiasts I have my own stick. When I was putting it together I was asked a question.

It seems that my pool stick is a Palmer Custom Cue. I’ve known this for some time, but never thought much of it. I got the stick at a garage sale, and as I recall I believe it cost me nothing. That was over a decade ago.

“Palmer cues were made by Eugene Balner at his shop in Elizabeth NJ. Balner emigrated to the US after fleeing communist Hungary in 1956. Balner partnered with Paradise and his Paradise Custom Cue Company. Eventually Balner and Paradise had a parting of the ways and Balner founded his own company: Palmer Cues. Eugene Balner passed away in January 1972 just when he had reached the height of his skills.

Palmers are one of the most affordable collectible cues.”

What I was asked was if I would be willing to sell my stick, for $500. It is possible that my stick is a classic collectible and worth potentially $1500. From what I can tell this is not an imitation cue but an original, made some time around the 70’s. Not bad for a garage sale item.

Now here is a question. What would you do? Sell the pool cue? If so for how much? It’s in excellent condition, and I use it somewhat regularly when I play pool. It’s a good stick and everything is original to my knowledge. Would you sell it, put it on Ebay or just keep it? I really would like to hear what everyone else would do.