Model11page

Chris,

WOW! What a site. I bookmarked you immediately. The first cue I ever bought was a Palmer, second catalogue, Model G. I was USAF, stationed at Griffis AFB in New York, cold long winters so playing pool became a thing to do. I was lucky in that an extremely good player was also

stationed there named Roger. He was very good and influenced many of us to develop and learn. I was addicted to pool at that point, but Roger told me in order to improve, I need a quality cue. Roger showed me his Palmer and Palmer cues he ordered for other players. I went to Elizabeth

NJ in the early 70's with money I scrounged up and ordered that Model G. It was all I could afford at the time but I had to have my own cue.

When I ordered the cue at the Palmer factory, I talked with Mrs. Balner and discussed what I wanted the cue to become. When I received it, I could not believe how beautiful it was and the hit was spectacular. I still have that cue today,it is in excellent condition and still plays as good as it did then. I was fortunate to have purchased that cue way back when. I am attaching a picture of some of my cues and the Palmer is on

the right side.

I am taking a trip to NJ soon and plan on taking that one along, maybe someone will notice it?

Tom K

Tom,

You will be pleased to learn that Mrs. Balner is still alive and well with many fond memories of Palmer cues. Peter went on to found a large chain of video stores, sold them, and retired to Arizona.

I am glad to hear that the Palmer G served you well. By that time, Palmer was able to buy the Titlist blanks in quantity from Brunswick. Your Model G cue is very old school with a Titlist blank and an acrylic window. It looks like it's in great condition too. I have one myself, but haven't seen very many otherwise.

What a beautiful collection. In the picture, from left to right I see you have 3 Gina's, two Tad's (wow, nice Tad's - with an old one), two JossWests, then I can't quite tell what the next one is *, the Palmer G, an old-style ebony and ivory cue by my friend Joe Porper , and a Meucci Original Road Agent.

If you hit New York City, I definitely recommend Amsterdam Billiard. I was there last year and it's a nice, upscale room with a lot of good players.

Thanks for writing!

Chris

* Tom later told me it was a Joss from 1968.

Follow up by David V. October, 2016

Chris,

I read with interest the submission submitted by Tom K on October 4, 2006 to your Q & A Talk Column as well as your reply informing him that Mrs. Balner was still alive at the time of your writing.

Amazingly, some 10 years later, I now have related information on Roger the man referenced by Tom K who reached out to help him both in learning the game and acquiring a Palmer Cue stick.

I pretty much had a similar experience with Roger nearly 50 years later when I took up pocket billiards at the tender age 63. I met him at our local pool hall HIPPO’s in Utica, NY. He quickly observed I had been “bitten by the bug” and generously offered to help me learn the game. Beyond that, he put me in touch with the owner of a pool hall in Syracuse, NY who had a “Diamondized, Gold Crown III for sale that had been restored by nationally recognized pool table mechanic Mark Gregory. The pockets on this table measure a little less than 4 and a half inches and definitively keep a player honest. Despite the tight pockets and the associated frustration from missed shots, the table is a favorite among the better players I shoot with.

While Roger’s game has been somewhat diminished by age, his passion for cue sports has not. He remains an ambassador of the sport we love and a reliable source not only for local billiards history and also relationships he had with many of the great players from the past. Also, he regularly assists Mike Zuglan as a referee at the Joss 9 Ball Tournaments at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, NY.

I have attached a picture of Roger , now a octogenarian, still playing the game and enjoying it.

As you might expect he was both surprised and pleased to hear of Tom K’s reference and trip down memory lane.

David V.