Hunt & O'byrne

[Andre Shum]

Would anyone tell me some history about Hunt & O'byrne custom cues?

[Global Snooker Centre]

Well I play with a Hunt & O'Byrne handmade cue - one piece, circa
1986! Just for the record it is rosewood and ash with a nine mm tip
and is very short, mainly cos the ferrule has snapped twice since I
had it.
Jimmy White used to use one, but don't know if he does still
Theyused to have a factory at Elephant & Castle in London. Then they
stopped trading, but I believe they started up again, somewhere in
Norfolk area??
Does anyone else know?
Janie
Andre Shum wrote in message <36B2EC70...@netvigator.com>...

[T...@my-dejanews.com]

In article <36B2EC70...@netvigator.com>,

andr...@netvigator.com wrote:
> Would anyone tell me some history about Hunt & O'byrne custom cues?
>

Hi there.

I was told Hunt & O'Byrne custom handmade cues were available for something
like 60 years until the company went bankrupt some 5 years ago. Now Will Hunt
seems to be in in business again as I saw some new cues with a Hunt & O'Byrne
plate and the typical short and very big joint screw. The two cues I saw were
not the world class standard the old cues have been but comparable to John
Parris midrange handspliced cues. The old cues were available in three
levels: "Red plate" machine spliced, "Green plate" hand spliced and "Black
plate" hand made. The last "Green plate" series has been made by Garrison and
finished by Hunt & O'Byrne. They have the typical Garrison quick lock joint
with that pyramid formed screw. The cues were kind of expensive ("Black
plates" started at 400 Pound Sterling). I am the proud owner of a 12 year old
"Black plate" which is still absolutely perfect. It is made of gray ebony and
ash and has a perfect grain - straight on the sides and no visible darts or
reverse darts on the top and bottom side. All "Black plates" were custom
cues. You could choose the woods, the balance point, thickness of butt end
and ferrule, weigt and length and 10 grades of stiffness. It took about three
months for delivery. I know about 10 "Black plates" owners here in Germany.
None of them would sell his cue. Will Hunt told me he made cues for Jimmy
White and John Parrot. He said the most expensive cue he made was for Ronnie
Wood of the Rolling Stones.

If somebody out there knows how and where Will Hunt is nowadays, send him some
greetings from Big Teddy in Germany and post the company address.

cu,
--TBL

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[T...@my-dejanews.com]

In article <36B2EC70...@netvigator.com>,
andr...@netvigator.com wrote:
> Would anyone tell me some history about Hunt & O'byrne custom cues?
>
>

They went bankrupt five years ago after being in the business for ages. The
cues were famous and said to be the best quality money could buy, but also
very expensive. Here in Germany there were three types available:

- machine spliced cues with e red name plate
- hand spliced cues with a green name plate
- hand made cues with a black name plate

The green plates were made by Garrison and had the Garrison quick lock joint
with a pyramid screw. Only the finish was done by Hunt & O'Byrne.

The black plates had a massive short screw joint. They were absolutely perfect
and custom made. You could choose length, ferrule and butt diameter, balance
point, stiffness and of course the woods used.

I am the proud owner of a 3-piece blackplate cue made of gray ebony and ash,
which has a superb grain - no visible darts or reverse darts, straight on the
sides. It is not whippy at all and plays very well. I bought it eleven years
ago for about 1200 DM, which is equivilent to 400 British Pounds. There are
about a handful other blackplate owners I know of in Germany, and none of us
would sell it.

Will Hunt told me he made cues for Jimmy White and John Parrot. The most
expensive cue he made was ordered by Ron Wood, who is said to carry around a
snooker table in the backstage area during concerts ...

Now there are new Hunt & O'Byrne cues around. They look like the old
blackplates, but the ebony is black and not gray and the grain is not that
perfect it was ten years ago. They are half the prize than in the old days. I
tried two of them and they felt OK, still worth the money, but they can't
match the standard of the old cues.

If somobody knows whether Will Hunt is still alive and kicking, drop me a
note.

Cheers.

[stellaca...@gmail.com]

Hi all I have a black plate will hunt cue number 167 with case.which I believe is jimmy white cue can someone give any indication what year this cue was made.thanks ps excellent cue jay

[danny...@gmail.com]

Hi, do you still keeping the will hunt cue, please let me know if you willing to sell it if you still keeping it, thank you.

[jef...@gmail.com]

Hello big Teddy, if you're still about, go on Facebook and search for "Will Hunt - London".

[cvanjo...@gmail.com]

On Thursday, 18 October 2012 19:39:07 UTC+1, stellaca...@gmail.com wrote:
> Hi all I have a black plate will hunt cue number 167 with case.which I believe is jimmy white cue can someone give any indication what year this cue was made.thanks ps excellent cue jay

Hi do you still have this cue?

[co...@gslplumbers.com]

On Saturday, 30 January 1999 08:00:00 UTC, Andre Shum wrote:
> Would anyone tell me some history about Hunt & O'byrne custom cues?

I own a Hunt & O'Byrne it has a machine splice, & a white plate with what may have been red writing but whilst the engraved writing is intact, the colour seems to have worn off. I bought this cue direct from Jimmy White himself around 1992 ish

[thebettert...@gmail.com]

Good cues m8
You looking for one myself had mine stolen cost me £150
I'm Robert from Lincoln
07484635835