Tom Gauthier the Canadian cue maker

[Richard Mc]

I am interested in finding out more about Tom and his cues. I bought a cue from him in 1989(subsequently stolen). His workshop was in an old cement? factory in Abbotsford BC. He has a legendary reputation as a cue maker among snooker players, especially in Canada. When I was buying my cue from him, I said that the ash cue's graining was distracting. He said,"Think of them as lines down a highway."! He was a very good player, but it was his brother(whose name I forget) that supposedly recorded the first 147 game in Canada- can anyone confirm that? In the "machine spliced cues" thread, Pool Junkie says that Tom used old Brunswick Trophy butts, reworked them and added his own shafts. I guess that was how he started, which was about when? As many of you know, Tom died of cancer a few years ago. Recently, I was lucky enough to finally get another cue of his. Interestingly, it has "Gauthier" written on the butt rather than the "Kustom T. Gauthier" badge. I'm guessing that my new cue was made around 1995-6. Another person sold me a Brunswick Trophy butt reworked by Tom with two Gauthier shafts. Strangely enough, another Gauthier cue was put on the market, which I impulsively bought(now resold). Does anyone have memories of Tom and/or his wonderful cues? I'd love to hear them. When I was in contact with him in the early 90's, most of his cues were going to Asia, so I don't think he is very well-known in Europe. However, I know that Cliff Thorburn and Alain Robidoux used Gauthier cues when they were in England. Several of my friends in our seniors' snooker league still cherish their Gauthier cues.

[poolqjunkie]

I am interested in finding out more about Tom and his cues. I bought a cue from him in 1989(subsequently stolen). His workshop was in an old cement? factory in Abbotsford BC. He has a legendary reputation as a cue maker among snooker players, especially in Canada. When I was buying my cue from him, I said that the ash cue's graining was distracting. He said,"Think of them as lines down a highway."! He was a very good player, but it was his brother(whose name I forget) that supposedly recorded the first 147 game in Canada- can anyone confirm that? In the "machine spliced cues" thread, Pool Junkie says that Tom used old Brunswick Trophy butts, reworked them and added his own shafts. I guess that was how he started, which was about when? As many of you know, Tom died of cancer a few years ago. Recently, I was lucky enough to finally get another cue of his. Interestingly, it has "Gauthier" written on the butt rather than the "Kustom T. Gauthier" badge. I'm guessing that my new cue was made around 1995-6. Another person sold me a Brunswick Trophy butt reworked by Tom with two Gauthier shafts. Strangely enough, another Gauthier cue was put on the market, which I impulsively bought(now resold). Does anyone have memories of Tom and/or his wonderful cues? I'd love to hear them. When I was in contact with him in the early 90's, most of his cues were going to Asia, so I don't think he is very well-known in Europe. However, I know that Cliff Thorburn and Alain Robidoux used Gauthier cues when they were in England. Several of my friends in our seniors' snooker league still cherish their Gauthier cues.

I believe among Canadian pro players Cliff and Bill were using Gauthier cues but not Alain.
Cliff later got some sponsorship deals and used some other cues I think. I think, but not entirely sure, he was also using an old trophy or something like that.
Noel and Montreal Leo can confirm that I am sure.
I would be very surprised to see many Gauthier cues in Asia.
I have always been under the impression that his cues are sold almost entirely in Canada.
There is nothing wrong with Gauthier cues with a Brunswick Devenshire or Brunswick Trophy butts in my opinion--he still needs to rebalance the cue, retaper the butt and build the joint and shafts. Some of those Gauthier cues are very nice. As a matter of fact I came across a maple Gauthier cue years ago that was built with such a butt, with a red joint and black joint collars which is by far the best Gauthier cue I have tried. Just my humble opinion.

[Richard Mc]

Thanks for the info, Poolqjunkie. I have read several of your informative contributions with interest. Do you have an idea of when he started cue making?Yes, I'm probably wrong about Alain using a Gauthier cue in Britain. However, it was Tom in 1989 that told me he was shipping many cues to Asia. Anyone have anything on this?

[poolqjunkie]

I heard a story about Tom Gauthier and Marco Fu but it is not confirmed. Nevetheless it is quite an interesting story be it true or not.
As some of you may know Marco Fu used to live in Vancouver, Canada--not too far from Tom Gauthier and Kevin Deroo's shop.
Marco Fu used to play with a half jointed Adam cue, which was very inexpensive and not even straight.
Before he left Canada, Marco wanted to have a nicer cue made in Canada.
He went to Tom Gauthier and Tom said he would make Marco a free cue if Marco could get a 147 (Tom called it a "perfect game") out of 10 frames that they play.
Marco agreed and they played 10 frames (Tom probably said "games" other than "frames" as that is how we call it in Canada). True to his words, Marco got a "perfect game" !
Tom went on to build Marco a cue but Marco just could not get on with it.
Marco then went to Kevin Deroo and got a cue for free from Kevin.
Marco did not have to work as hard to earn this cue as it did not involve any wager on making a "perfect game".

PS: I do not know if the "perfect game " part of the story is true, but I have heard from several people that Marco did ask Tom to make him a cue which for whatever reason Marco never played with.

[thelongbomber]

Hi poolqjunkie. Nice to see you have a passion for Tom's legacy and want to know more. He certainly was recluse. I never had the pleasure of knowing or meeting him but I do now own one of his very rare cues. One of his close friends, Andrew, a pool hall owner in late 90's managed to get Tom to restart his cue making around 1995/1996 during which time Tom made about 3 or 4 dozen cues before passing. Of those last cues, Andrew managed to get two made of which I acquired one.

I'm going to get Andrew to give me more of a story and background of Tom soon.

I'm in the process of selling my Gauthier cue now. You can see it at http://picasaweb.google.ca/redprimar...qytv_a1_vQkAE#

[Slasher]

Tom started back in the 70's usually cutting up Dufferins, installing a Brunswick trophy style joint only with brown phenolic instead of white and making the shafts. Billy played with one so that was why I bought one in 1978.
Later he was building from scratch and using ash.
I have built a few replacements shafts as of late for Gauthiers and Trophies as they are getting older and worn out and the fit of the piloted Trophy joint is critical to the hit of these cues.
The shafts all have to be custom fit as they are all different sizes, Brunswick would alter the diameters to control the weight.
Toms cues still seem to hold their values quite well.
He had a brother Rene, not sure if he is still around and not sure if he had other brothers. Last time I saw him was 10+ years ago.
Thats about all I know

[the montrealer]

I am interested in finding out more about Tom and his cues. I bought a cue from him in 1989(subsequently stolen). His workshop was in an old cement? factory in Abbotsford BC. He has a legendary reputation as a cue maker among snooker players, especially in Canada. When I was buying my cue from him, I said that the ash cue's graining was distracting. He said,"Think of them as lines down a highway."! He was a very good player, but it was his brother(whose name I forget) that supposedly recorded the first 147 game in Canada- can anyone confirm that? In the "machine spliced cues" thread, Pool Junkie says that Tom used old Brunswick Trophy butts, reworked them and added his own shafts. I guess that was how he started, which was about when? As many of you know, Tom died of cancer a few years ago. Recently, I was lucky enough to finally get another cue of his. Interestingly, it has "Gauthier" written on the butt rather than the "Kustom T. Gauthier" badge. I'm guessing that my new cue was made around 1995-6. Another person sold me a Brunswick Trophy butt reworked by Tom with two Gauthier shafts. Strangely enough, another Gauthier cue was put on the market, which I impulsively bought(now resold). Does anyone have memories of Tom and/or his wonderful cues? I'd love to hear them. When I was in contact with him in the early 90's, most of his cues were going to Asia, so I don't think he is very well-known in Europe. However, I know that Cliff Thorburn and Alain Robidoux used Gauthier cues when they were in England. Several of my friends in our seniors' snooker league still cherish their Gauthier cues.

HI Richard i met Tom Gauthier back in the Eighties in Montreal Quebec Canada he was playing in the Canadian Snooker Championships and he sold two Gauthier Cues to some of my friends and i was lucky to buy one a few years ago it was a maple cue curley maple and ebony butt it showed on butt of cue Kustom T Gauthier badge. And from that point on i was hooked on Gauthier Cues.

Cliff Thorburn has one and he showed it to me and his cue is still in perfect condition. Also showed my cue to Alain Robidoux who is my personal friend and i go with him to the Canadian Snooker Champs the past few years and he told me that TOM Gauthiers cues was the best cue maker in Canada next to Kevin DEROO who makes snooker cues and pool cues and is based in Vancouver.

Alain Robidoux never played with a Gauthier Cue as when he was 18 years old he played with a Brunswick Trophy cue and then met a cue Maker Marcel Jacques who made snooker cues and he made one for Alain Robidoux he then won the Canadian Snooker Champs in the Eighties and then went to England to play on the Professional Snooker Tour and in 1988 lost to Alex Higgins in the Grand Prix.

In 1997 he was in the Semis Finals of the World Snooker Champs and lost to Ken Doherthy who then beat Stephen Hendry in the Final and Ken became World Snooker Champs 1997.

In 1997 his Marcel Jacque was damaged and he brought it back to Marcel Jacque to be fixed. Marcel saw a sticker on butt of cue and he asked Alain what was that about and Alain told him that he was getting money from this Billard Company and Marcel told alain that he would never get his cue back and supposedly smashed it to bitts that was the end for Alain Robidoux career in Snooker in the Uk.

He now plays with a Marcel Jacques Cue which he obtained from a snooker player who lives in Toronto Ontario.

He still competes in the Canadian Snooker Champs which he won last year. This year he lost in the semis finals to Fern Loyer.

By the way Richard just resently purchased a Gauthier Cue from you and looking forward to receiving it cheers Leonard

[poolqjunkie]

HI Richard i met Tom Gauthier back in the Eighties in Montreal Quebec Canada he was playing in the Canadian Snooker Championships and he sold two Gauthier Cues to some of my friends and i was lucky to buy one a few years ago it was a maple cue curley maple and ebony butt it showed on butt of cue Kustom T Gauthier badge. And from that point on i was hooked on Gauthier Cues.

Cliff Thorburn has one and he showed it to me and his cue is still in perfect condition. Also showed my cue to Alain Robidoux who is my personal friend and i go with him to the Canadian Snooker Champs the past few years and he told me that TOM Gauthiers cues was the best cue maker in Canada next to Kevin DEROO who makes snooker cues and pool cues and is based in Vancouver.

Alain Robidoux never played with a Gauthier Cue as when he was 18 years old he played with a Brunswick Trophy cue and then met a cue Maker Marcel Jacques who made snooker cues and he made one for Alain Robidoux he then won the Canadian Snooker Champs in the Eighties and then went to England to play on the Professional Snooker Tour and in 1988 lost to Alex Higgins in the Grand Prix.

In 1997 he was in the Semis Finals of the World Snooker Champs and lost to Ken Doherthy who then beat Stephen Hendry in the Final and Ken became World Snooker Champs 1997.

In 1997 his Marcel Jacque was damaged and he brought it back to Marcel Jacque to be fixed. Marcel saw a sticker on butt of cue and he asked Alain what was that about and Alain told him that he was getting money from this Billard Company and Marcel told alain that he would never get his cue back and supposedly smashed it to bitts that was the end for Alain Robidoux career in Snooker in the Uk.

He now plays with a Marcel Jacques Cue which he obtained from a snooker player who lives in Toronto Ontario.

He still competes in the Canadian Snooker Champs which he won last year. This year he lost in the semis finals to Fern Loyer.

By the way Richard just resently purchased a Gauthier Cue from you and looking forward to receiving it cheers Leonard

Hi Leo,
How many Gauthier have you bought, owned, and sold?
I heard Cliff has a very fancy Tom Gauthier cue, is that right? What does it look like?
When Cliff was in the UK, what cue was his main playing cue for most part of his career? Was it an Adam?
How old is Marcel Jacque now? Is he still making cues?

[the montrealer]

hi leo,
how many gauthier have you bought, owned, and sold?
i heard cliff has a very fancy tom gauthier cue, is that right? What does it look like?
When cliff was in the uk, what cue was his main playing cue for most part of his career? Was it an adam?
How old is marcel jacque now? Is he still making cues?

hi poolqjunkie i have owned 5 gauthier cues and sold 2 of them bought two of them from hongkong ash wood and it is shown signed gauthier cue also another one showed it to tom finstad and he told me it was from a dufferin butt also have another one and it is show k custom cue by t gauthier still have 3 of them. And resently bought another one which is shown k custom cue by t gauthier.

The one cliff thorburn has it has a gold ring on butt of cue shown as k custom cue by t gauthier.

Cliff thorburn when he was in the uk in the seventys played with a adam cue and not sure if he won the world champs in 1980 with that cue. He now playes in the legend tour in the uk with his gauthier cue.

Marcel jacques passed away in 1998 or 1999 he was at that time 70 years old. He used to make bowling alleys back then and then decided to make snooker cues.

When marcel jacques started making cues he was charging $125.00 per cue. Then when alain robidoux started playing with his cue and alain when to england his cues were selling around $350.00 to $400.00.

Finally marcel jacques in the late years got sick and his sons started making cues but not as good as his father.

There is a person in montreal his name is russ amber he is on tsn a boxing analyst and he has around 25 marcel jacques which he keeps and does not sell and he always ask me to look out for marcel jacques cues.

Cheers leonard

[poolqjunkie]

hi poolqjunkie i have owned 5 gauthier cues and sold 2 of them bought two of them from hongkong ash wood and it is shown signed gauthier cue also another one showed it to tom finstad and he told me it was from a dufferin butt also have another one and it is show k custom cue by t gauthier still have 3 of them. And resently bought another one which is shown k custom cue by t gauthier.

The one cliff thorburn has it has a gold ring on butt of cue shown as k custom cue by t gauthier.

Cliff thorburn when he was in the uk in the seventys played with a adam cue and not sure if he won the world champs in 1980 with that cue. He now playes in the legend tour in the uk with his gauthier cue.

Marcel jacques passed away in 1998 or 1999 he was at that time 70 years old. He used to make bowling alleys back then and then decided to make snooker cues.

When marcel jacques started making cues he was charging $125.00 per cue. Then when alain robidoux started playing with his cue and alain when to england his cues were selling around $350.00 to $400.00.

Finally marcel jacques in the late years got sick and his sons started making cues but not as good as his father.

There is a person in montreal his name is russ amber he is on tsn a boxing analyst and he has around 25 marcel jacques which he keeps and does not sell and he always ask me to look out for marcel jacques cues.

Cheers leonard

Thank you for the info, really appreciate it.
I asked about Cliff's Gauthier cue because I have never seen it and someone told me it features pearl inlays and is worth about $3000! Just wondering if it is true.
I have seen some Gauthier cues with a brass ring on the butt. Does Cliff's have a brass ring or is it made of real gold?
Thank you.

[the montrealer]

Thank you for the info, really appreciate it.
I asked about Cliff's Gauthier cue because I have never seen it and someone told me it features pearl inlays and is worth about $3000! Just wondering if it is true.
I have seen some Gauthier cues with a brass ring on the butt. Does Cliff's have a brass ring or is it made of real gold?
Thank you.

hi poolqjunkie the cue that i have is made of brass ring but gold colour. i would beleive that Cliff cue the Gauthier would be worth at least $2000.00 to $3000.00 has he as babied it for 20 years.

Now if cliff cue would be made of gold i would think that he would have sold it by now. Just kidding. Leonard from Canada

[poolqjunkie]

now if cliff cue would be made of gold i would think that he would have sold it by now. Just kidding. Leonard from canada

lol

[Richard Mc]

Tom started back in the 70's usually cutting up Dufferins, installing a Brunswick trophy style joint only with brown phenolic instead of white and making the shafts. Billy played with one so that was why I bought one in 1978.
Later he was building from scratch and using ash.
I have built a few replacements shafts as of late for Gauthiers and Trophies as they are getting older and worn out and the fit of the piloted Trophy joint is critical to the hit of these cues.
The shafts all have to be custom fit as they are all different sizes, Brunswick would alter the diameters to control the weight.
Toms cues still seem to hold their values quite well.
He had a brother Rene, not sure if he is still around and not sure if he had other brothers. Last time I saw him was 10+ years ago.
Thats about all I know

Thanks, Slasher- Rene was the name I forgot. Many years ago I read a library book about snooker around the world. It said that Rene was the first Canadian to achieve a 147. I asked Tom about it and he confirmed Rene's perfect game but did not specifically say that he was the first in Canada. Does anyone have a memory af this?

[the montrealer]

Thanks, Slasher- Rene was the name I forgot. Many years ago I read a library book about snooker around the world. It said that Rene was the first Canadian to achieve a 147. I asked Tom about it and he confirmed Rene's perfect game but did not specifically say that he was the first in Canada. Does anyone have a memory af this?

HI Richard the first perfect game that was register in Canada was by a person Leo Levitt at the Windsor Bowling and Billiard Room in Montreal Quebec Canada he made it in 1948 at the Windsor Billiard Hall

By the way Alain Robidoux my friend has over 120 Perfect Games or 147 as they call it in the Uk in Practice or matches i beleive he has the most for a Canadian cheers Leonard

[snookerbum]

snooker

anyone know where to play snooker in montreal?