Thursday, March 08, 2012

Albert Chow

A few years ago I received a call from Albert Chow, a man who was unknown by me at that time. He told me he'd been talking to a friend of mine that told him about my burl. He said he made pool cues and asked if I'd be interested in selling him pieces of burl maple.

I told him to come on over and see if I had any pieces that he could work with. He came over with his daughter and as it turned out I did. The pieces he chose had been trimmed off the burl when I first removed it and stored with the other trimmings. When I told him he could take the wood at no cost he responded by offering to make me a cue.

I told Albert that if he made me a cue, I'd raffle it off and give the money to the a children's hospice.

A few months later a business card was in my mail box. It said Komodo Authentic Cues on the front and had a hand written note on the back. It said "Hi Glen, I came by to drop off your cue. I'll call to see when your available. Albert

I happened to be working in the area where Albert lives so I stopped by his place. He showed me around his shop and then gave me one of the nicest pool cues I've ever seen. Beautifully built out of wood from my burl, unbelievable! Not only did he give me the cue, but he supplied a vinyl case and in the case he placed a chalk. One of his customers had come to his house and tried it out. He told Albert it was the nicest solid hitting cue he's ever played with. He offered to buy it but Albert, being a man of his word, refused to part with it. My respect level for him is very high for this reason.

So now it's time for me to live up to my word and use it to raise money for the children's hospital.

I'll post details on this blog early in June and hopefully you can make it.

Thank you Albert Chow!





7 comments:

Anonymous said...

Nice story/Good people/Great cause.

I find that forms of barter with good folks is the most effective way to deal with folks on a smaller level.

That slice of oak hollow with some burled graining was given to me by a guy who kind of wanter to leep it but was seeing what I was doing with those types of pieces so he gave it up.
As a thank you gift, I had a piece of finished oak burl that was a suitable piece for a mantle , and I left it on his doorstep when I came after the log.

It has turned into a nice back and forth between us, via e-mails. To this day I haven't met the individual, since he was out of town when I came after the log piece.

Burlman said...

Yes, it's funny how a wood collection can have such a sentimental value. I remember where I got every single piece I have, and how I got it. It's especially nice to see something beautiful made out of a piece that has sentimental value that you supplied. I've made a lot of friends just from having my burl in my yard for so many years. I love to make personal gifts for my family, there's always a lot of meaning to them.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, That's what happens when e-mailing and after time finding you've made a friend.
A local woodworker I met on the Woodworking Forum, lives within a few miles of me and makes log furniture of the more traditional style from what I do. He is also a log home builder by hobby (not by trade).
We trade a lot of info and some wood pieces.

It turns out to be a friendship of like minds in these things.

Dan O'

atikokanut said...

Glen, this is a touching story. Good luck with the open house and raising money for a great cause. Wish I was around for the raffle. You are truly a good guy!

Sherry

Albert Chow said...

Hi Glen....Thank you for the kind words. I 'll be able to drop by your open house on Sunday June 24.
I'd like to see the cue again for the last time and I hope it helps raise money for Canuck's Place.

Regards,

Albert

Burlman said...

I'm glad you're coming Albert. Thanks for correcting my wording, I made the change. See you on the 24th, maybe we can dig through my wood pile while you're here. :)

Burlman said...

Sherry, I wish you could be here as well. Thanks for the comment.