Info on this L.J. Julius Special Cue Fort Dodge IA

9/21/2018 6:21:18 AM

Info on this L.J. Julius Special Cue Fort Dodge IA

I am looking for info on this old cue.

It reads

L.J. Julius

Special
Cue

Fort Dodge, IA

Any would be appreciated thank you in advance.

s-l1600-(3).jpg

s-l1600-(7).jpg

RUSTY

Info on this L.J. Julius Special Cue Fort Dodge IA

Replies & Comments

Chopdoc on 9/21/2018 1:00:05 PM
I watched that on Ebay.

Rare does not mean valuable not collectible.

It is definitively NOT a Brunswick,the seller said he had asked "billiards historians" and they said it might be a Brunswick. I don't know who they talked to, but they are wrong.

IMHO the cue sold for what it is worth...maybe a bit high including shipping. I didn't buy it because I felt the value was exceeded.

I do not know the source. I would check with local historians. You can also check old business registries.

I already checked online business registries, death records, trademarks, etc. I found nothing except possibly some family members.

The best trail will most likely be picked up locally. Local records and/or local people that remember will likely help.

.

RUSTY on 9/21/2018 2:52:24 PM
Thank you I passed already as I couldn't find any info either to much of a long shot :)

Chopdoc on 9/21/2018 5:13:41 PM
The mystery is cool though. I saved all the images and will still look for answers.

I love the research.

RUSTY on 9/21/2018 6:29:30 PM
I originally thought it was a Sampaio pool cue, possibly made for a department store but couldn't find anything. I spent about 5 hours on-and-off this week searching the internet and came up empty.

What do you think about the other vintage cue the guy is selling that had 3-piece wrap? Do you think it's a handmade cue in your opinion? It looks to be well built.

I love old vintage cues and I also love finding them. LOL. Thanks again.

billiardsforum on 9/24/2018 5:51:05 PM
I shot an email to Pat Diveney, who is an Iowa-based cue maker, on the off chance he'll have heard of them. Long shot, but worth a try. Will update here if anything comes of it.

I did find a "Lawrence J Julius" of Fort Dodge, Iowa (through his wife's obituary) but nothing linking him to pool cues.

Chopdoc on 9/24/2018 6:25:32 PM
The other cue? The three piece wrap? Honestly Chinese junk. Most of his cues are junk.

He originally tried saying this was a Brunswick: (ebay.com/itm/253893425765)

I contacted him and told him the model. It's a Valley cue. Now he says he did "extensive research". He said a Brunswick dealer told him it might be a Brunswick. What does a Brunswick dealer know about other brands? I linked him to the original 1972 Valley catalog to prove it.

Honestly the case is worth more than the cue, and it isn't worth much. Those cases are a dime a dozen. The case isn't real leather, it's basically laminated cardboard.

Show me a Brunswick Deluxe cue and that's another story.

I think contacting Diveney was a good idea. Please let me know if you come up with anything.

I did research it as well. I found the same person you did.

RUSTY on 9/24/2018 8:11:09 PM
I thought about contacting Diveney but he's so busy I hate to bother him with questions about cues he doesn't make, and he does make some damn nice cues. :)

If I had to guess I'd say it was probably made by a local guy and sold at an old time drug store/general store in it's time.

As for the Valley cue the dude is selling I could see not knowing I shot the person a message the E-bay seller said he asked another E-bay seller that always has vintage Brunswick cues listed and that's where he got the original information about it being a Brunswick or Sutra cause the guy was a dealer ,for Brunswick ,Richcue and many others in that era. Hell I didn't even know Valley made 2-piece cues untill you posted on this thread.

I grew up in the Adam/Steve Mizerak Series/Huebler/McDermott/Meucci/Mali and so on cue height in the Early 1980's when demand became huge again for quality cues. As you know it comes and goes.

The case look's authentic. The only ones I've ever seen had crowns on them so I'm not sure how they marked them prior to the crown stamp.

The problem is there's a lot of misinformation on the internet and everyone is an Expert. I just research something and if I draw dead I usually pass because rare stuff pops up. Every once in a while someone does have a rare piece and they don't know it. I look for those and if it goes to high I pass on it.

If you think about it, Adam cue alone had so many models and cues there are a lot that aren't easy to Identify. They were meeting a demand. The same with Kao/Kao corp. Back then they had like 8 lines of brands basically all the same inlay just a different name and they're still doing it today.

These cues come and go on E-bay until they start falling apart, then its time for a name change. I never frown on anyone if they simply don't know what they have. I, much like you, will steer them in the right if they want to listen. Some sellers don't want to hear the truth. Everything is "Vintage" and worth millions on eBay.

Have a good night and let me know if Diveney does indeed get back to you as I still would like the story on Fort Dodge.

billiardsforum on 9/25/2018 2:02:54 AM
Here is Pat's reply:

I think that is probably an amusement company from back in the day. You might look for that info. Years ago those people that made house cues and such would put the name of amusement company’s on the cues they bought. Hope that helps.

Chopdoc on 9/25/2018 2:27:10 PM
I already searched for an amusement company.

Local tax records, property records, business registrations, things like that.

If there is a library in town or tax office they might be able to help.

.

billiardsforum on 9/26/2018 3:31:07 AM
I was able to reach a few Fort Dodge locals and even one of Mr. Julius' descendants and was able to get a lot of good info. Some still live in Fort Dodge and surrounding area. The details are as follows:

The cue maker's name is Laurence Julius. He lived near what is now "Amigos Bar" in Fort Dodge, IA.

Here are some tidbits about him according to a few Fort Dodge locals:
1. He lived on the hill by amigos and he made pool sticks. He made pool cues for us when we were younger. He was a hell of a pool player. I watched him play my dad the game didn’t last long I was 9 years old. He had one of the nicest pool tables I had ever seen.
  
  Steve Gerdes
2. He had a son, John Julius who would be 70 now.
  
  Mel Kreiman
Then John Julius' neice, Krys Julius-Will (Laurence Julius' Granddaughter) chimed in, and added:

This cue is made by my Grandpa, Lawrence Julius. He made them, and sold them from his house on the hill up from what is now Amigos. His nickname was "Snook". Great player! Many people tried to beat him. He had no mercy! LOL!

His famous pool table is now at my cousins house in Humboldt. They built a house, lowered the table down in the basement, then finished building around it!

Here are a few of his pool cues that I have. There are family and customers that have so many more.

He also dabbled in fishing lures. I used to watch him make them, by hand, for years, in his little workshop in the basement. He had the score beads, strung around the ceiling. I'm betting I have a picture of those somewhere. It was a cool set up.

That is all I have for now, but I think some more info will be coming shortly. I'll share here if/when it comes.

RUSTY on 9/26/2018 10:42:12 AM
Wow that's a great story thanks for sharing and finding the information as it was a true hand made cue now I'm sorry I passed on the item a great piece of history behind it.

Chopdoc on 9/26/2018 10:57:18 AM
Excellent. Thank you!

I now regret not buying that cue. LOL!

billiardsforum on 10/15/2018 4:04:03 AM
Below is a photo of L.J. Julius that his Granddaughter sent me over the weekend. Apparently L.J. grew up in a pool hall that his father owned.

Chopdoc on 10/15/2018 2:23:43 PM
Very cool! Thank you!

I will try to see that his name gets listed in the various historical lists of cue makers.

Info on this L.J. Julius Special Cue Fort Dodge IA

Title: Info on this L.J. Julius Special Cue Fort Dodge IA
Author: RUSTY (Tim Linn)
Published: 9/21/2018 6:21:18 AM
Last Updated: 9/24/2018 5:31:27 PM
Last Updated By: billiardsforum (Billiards Forum)