Just bought Jp mannock :-)

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That 1889 advert also mentions that Mannock made "constant use" of a portable cue. Although advertising standards were not as stringent as they are now, it can be assumed that Mannock was paid for his endorsement, and the link with Burroughes & Watts at this date is interesting bearing in mind that his cue was patented two years later and I reckon that someone made them for him (albeit I might be alone in that opinion.)

I knew three local players who bought Mannock cues when they were still available in the 1950's. They all had horn ferrules when new, and they all broke off with constant play, the cues having to be shortened quite significantly. From this I assume that the horn ferrule was a weakness and many users would have experienced this problem.

Perhaps the cue experts can advise me on something. I understood that when pearwood is steamed it changes colour. Would this make it particularly difficult to fit a replacement shaft which had an exact colour match?

when you steam pearwood it goes a pinkish colour that darkens over time, and i would think from experience to match a shaft would be almost impossible. i would stick my neck out and say i think for once andy might be wrong and they were likely made for him although i would guess, and i imagine its why andy says he made them, not by any of the established makers.