Homemade cases?

[polkat]

I am thinking about making my own custom violin case. I've done a lot of violin work, but never approached this before. Can anyone show me, or guide me to examples? Thanks!

[Darren Molnar]

http://calderoriginals.com/2005_12_01_archive.html

here's someone that might be worth talking to.

[lvlagneto]

I’ve thought about building traditional coffin cases, after spending too many hours rebuilding broken ones. If you’ve seen older junk cases, it’s strange to think how much faith people put in their flimsy construction.

Bending the thick wood for case walls is tricky, so be ready to fail a few times if you plan to use wood.

What are you planning to make "custom" about your case... a striking new shape?

Here is a Calder violin case:

Looks like this still has the same problems as a standard case, with the bows in with the violin. At least the frogs don't have shafts with toggles over them.

[Alex_E]

[lvlagneto]

Is that a violin case, or Spock coffin? I suppose that's fine for an alloy violin.

[Adam Edwards]

Is this Alex Grant................ I think I have read about this violin

[upnorth]

This book http://www.violincasecollecting.com/bookde...?BookID=49939is written by a mnetter and is very good. I have it and am actually interested in making one of those fancy veneered coopered top cases.

[GlennYorkPA]

This book http://www.violincasecollecting.com/bookde...?BookID=49939is written by a mnetter and is very good. I have it and am actually interested in making one of those fancy veneered coopered top cases.

Upnorth,

Thanks for the unsolicited praise . I spent part of the Xmas break working on an article tackling the thorny question of how to judge a case. I'm trying to take into account all aspects of a case (i.e. all I can think of).

The factors I've come up with so far are:

Materials (how suitable they are for the job)

Functionality (how well violin and bow are protected)

uniqueness (higher marks for hand crafted rather than factory produced)

aesthetics (pleasing appearance).

Any others?

I'm anticipating the day when there is a case making competition to accompany violin and bow making competitions and so I'm thinking of judging guidelines so please feel free to chip in with comments.

iburkard - Did you purchase that Calder case? It's included in my book along with Nick Comer-Calder's design principles for it. I've never seen one in real life but he uses very expensive materials. Are you pleased with it?

Glenn

[cjstuff]

Dang, what a gorgeous instrument and very cool case! I've been on the hunt for a (semi) affordable aluminum violin for a while, but I haven't seen one turn up in a long time. These days, people are just pouncing on them (as I guess I would, too, if I had the money).

I've always wondered why no one has tried to make modern aluminum alloy violins using the specs of the old Aluminum Musical Instrument Company design, or even the screwed-together German design. Given the current (comparatively low) price of aluminum, I'd think that it wouldn't be all that hard to fabricate and build these over in Asia.

[fiddlecollector]

Dang, what a gorgeous instrument and very cool case! I've been on the hunt for a (semi) affordable aluminum violin for a while, but I haven't seen one turn up in a long time. These days, people are just pouncing on them (as I guess I would, too, if I had the money).

I've always wondered why no one has tried to make modern aluminum alloy violins using the specs of the old Aluminum Musical Instrument Company design, or even the screwed-together German design. Given the current (comparatively low) price of aluminum, I'd think that it wouldn't be all that hard to fabricate and build these over in Asia.

If i can remember Alex`s posts he was making them out of titanium after first trying aluminium.

[Anders Buen]

If i can remember Alex`s posts he was making them out of titanium after first trying aluminium.

Is there a sound sample of the metal violins available anywhere?

[CT Dolan]

I've always wanted to see a case for better violins that is on par with the fitted oak and leather cases one sees for best-quality doubles, such as a Purdey or Holland & Holland. Surely better violins are deserving of such treatment. Surely the values of the contents fall in line as a best-quality James Purdey & Sons, Holland & Holland or Boss & Co. double can run well into the 6-figures as well.

[Craig Regan]

Look at antique violin cases for ideas, some are very nice.

Also, search for 1/8" poplar bending plywood for building your case.

[GlennYorkPA]

I've always wanted to see a case for better violins that is on par with the fitted oak and leather cases one sees for best-quality doubles, such as a Purdey or Holland & Holland. Surely better violins are deserving of such treatment. Surely the values of the contents fall in line as a best-quality James Purdey & Sons, Holland & Holland or Boss & Co. double can run well into the 6-figures as well.

[cjstuff]

If i can remember Alex`s posts he was making them out of titanium after first trying aluminium.

Magnesium alloy, actually. If you search around on the 'Net, you can find vintage 2004 and 2005 discussion threads about the construction techniques and materials. According to Alex's posts of the time, the aluminum violin sounded excellent but was noticeably heavier than a conventional wooden violin. Hence, his desire to experiment with magnesium alloy. I would think that titanium would be too brittle to beat into shape, though you could obviously cast it.

[polkat]

Interesting stuff so far (some that doesn't apply to the thread, but you'll have that). Thanks for the ideas!

[fiddlecollector]

Magnesium alloy, actually. If you search around on the 'Net, you can find vintage 2004 and 2005 discussion threads about the construction techniques and materials. According to Alex's posts of the time, the aluminum violin sounded excellent but was noticeably heavier than a conventional wooden violin. Hence, his desire to experiment with magnesium alloy. I would think that titanium would be too brittle to beat into shape, though you could obviously cast it.

My mistake ,i think your right!

[GlennYorkPA]

I've always wanted to see a case for better violins that is on par with the fitted oak and leather cases one sees for best-quality doubles, such as a Purdey or Holland & Holland. Surely better violins are deserving of such treatment. Surely the values of the contents fall in line as a best-quality James Purdey & Sons, Holland & Holland or Boss & Co. double can run well into the 6-figures as well.

CT Dolan,

There always used to be top-of-the-line violin cases worthy of high end violins but tastes change. I posted, without comment, an 1897 Hill case, one of only 12, containing a Matteo Gofriller violin but all the excitement was over a modern metallic case containing a metal fiddle.

As you seem to know about gun cases, here, just for you, is a violin case which I think started life as one of the high end gun cases you mention. In order to accommodate a full sized violin, the left hand lock and hinge needed to be moved and I have been told that the small wooden compartment at the RHS was probably for ammo. It is solid flamed mahogany (not veneered) and the handle is the type one sees on British military chests.

If you have anything to add to the speculation, I'd be more than pleased to hear it.

Bearing in mind that the purpose of this thread was assist polkat in his endeavor to make a case, it is worth pointing out that when violin cases are opened, the scroll is usually to the left. In this 'gun' case, the scroll is to the right - another reason I think it might not have begun life as a violin case.

So an early decision, when making a case, is to decide the orientation.

Glenn

[cjstuff]

CT Dolan,

There always used to be top-of-the-line violin cases worthy of high end violins but tastes change. I posted, without comment, an 1897 Hill case, one of only 12, containing a Matteo Gofriller violin but all the excitement was over a modern metallic case containing a metal fiddle.

Actually, I was more in awe of the aluminum violin than the case--though I'm very impressed with the metalwork used to create a case worthy of holding a metal violin (I'd be worried about scratches, of course).

Bearing in mind that the purpose of this thread was assist polkat in his endeavor to make a case, it is worth pointing out that when violin cases are opened, the scroll is usually to the left. In this 'gun' case, the scroll is to the right - another reason I think it might not have begun life as a violin case.

It's interesting that you bring up violin orientation. I picked up an attic find violin about two years ago, in a vintage fitted (and commercially made) case, that also had a "reverse" orientation of the instrument. It took me a minute to figure out how to open it. :-)

My first thought was that the hinges had been reversed somewhere along its life due to case damage, but I found no evidence of that or of a replaced case lining. The formed case also clearly looked like it had been made for a violin, not another instrument (or rifle). I was left scratching my head and wondering if the case was quite as professionally made as I had thought. Or if the case maker was a lefty. :-)

[Michael_Molnar]

This thread is a tough one for me.

I do want to encourage originality, but I do not want someone to go down a business dead end.

Any new violin case has to be significantly better in some aspect compared to the inexpensive and good quality cases I can now buy from wholesalers.

I look for cases that are light and can pass airport security - namely no metal cases. They have to fit in overhead bins and survive being in overhead bins!!!!

I also look for artistic beauty which means the proper use of material textures and colors. They should LOOK expensive.

I invite innovators, but they must be realistic. Show me your business plan, unless this is a money losing hobby.

Good luck,

Mike

[polkat]

GlennYorkPA, yes, I had considered modifying a rifle or archery case, but I noticed during a search on the web that most rifle cases are a bit longer then desired. The case pictured in your post, do you know it's origins? Any brand markings on it?

[CT Dolan]

Glenn,

I appreciate you having posted the pictures. I wish I could open them to view the images in greater detail, however for some reason I cannot. I tried from my work computer as well, but no luck.

From the thumbnails, the first case you pcitured looks very nice. The thumbnail of the second case is too small for me to see any detail, at least with regard to ascertaining whether or not it began life as a gun case (if so, my guess is that it was destined for a Greener, but that is just a hunch). Certainly the orientation is backwards for a violin case, that is unless the photograph is a reverse image, but the strings would bear that out...that is, unless it is a left-hand instrument!

I tell you what, if you can email me the pictures at ct.dolan (@yahoo,com).

Thanks,

Chris

P.S. - I broke up my email address and threw in a comma to throw the pack of spam hounds off my trail!

[GlennYorkPA]

This thread is a tough one for me.

I do want to encourage originality, but I do not want someone to go down a business dead end.

Any new violin case has to be significantly better in some aspect compared to the inexpensive and good quality cases I can now buy from wholesalers.

I look for cases that are light and can pass airport security - namely no metal cases. They have to fit in overhead bins and survive being in overhead bins!!!!

I also look for artistic beauty which means the proper use of material textures and colors. They should LOOK expensive.

I invite innovators, but they must be realistic. Show me your business plan, unless this is a money losing hobby.

Good luck,

Mike

Michael,

Who said anything about a business?

In his opening sentence, polkat said he was thinking of making his own, custom made case. Nobody ever said they were thinking of starting a business making cases - that's a whole other ballgame. But neither do I understand 'money losing hobby'. It's nice if you gain financially from a hobby but one doesn't do it for that reason.

I didn't publish my book to make money; I did it because it was something I enjoy and wanted to share with others.

I would encourage anyone who wants to make a case to do so, that is the way to appreciate the work of others and understand the issues involved. Any particularly good ideas might get taken up by bespoke makers such as Dimitri Musafia, Luis Negri, Nick Comer-Calder, LeRoy Weber or even the large scale producers like Gewa and Bobelock but that would be the icing on the cake, not the reason for starting.

Would you ask to see the business plan of the person thinking of making their first violin?

Glenn

[CT Dolan]

I've often thought that a ready market existed for really good, high-end instrument cases. I am not familiar with the makers mentioned above (other than Musafia and Negri), but I have yet to see anything in person that I consider on par with what protects best-quality doubles.

In the long run, looks count for little. Quality alone brings value, quality that endures, the level of quality that speaks to you from across the room and is as plain as the ground beneath your feet or the sky overhead, the kind of quality does not call anything into question.

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn,

I appreciate you having posted the pictures. I wish I could open them to view the images in greater detail, however for some reason I cannot. I tried from my work computer as well, but no luck.

From the thumbnails, the first case you pcitured looks very nice. The thumbnail of the second case is too small for me to see any detail, at least with regard to ascertaining whether or not it began life as a gun case (if so, my guess is that it was destined for a Greener, but that is just a hunch). Certainly the orientation is backwards for a violin case, that is unless the photograph is a reverse image, but the strings would bear that out...that is, unless it is a left-hand instrument!

I tell you what, if you can email me the pictures at ct.dolan (@yahoo,com).

Thanks,

Chris

P.S. - I broke up my email address and threw in a comma to throw the pack of spam hounds off my trail!

ct Dolan,

Chris, I just emailed you the pictures. Polkat (or anyone else) if you would like any particular images from my archive covering 300 years of cases, you are welcome to PM me with your email address and I will be happy to share.

Regarding the 'guncase' it came from a case collector in England who, as usual, knew nothing of its history. It is odd that one or two gun collectors have said it is too short to be a rifle case so who knows?

It was certainly modified after it was made but here is another possibility; that it was changed to accommodate a larger instrument. I have often found that historical cases and violins are not always interchangeable. I'm not a violin maker so I tend to think that all violins are more or less the same size but it isn't true. I have come to believe that the better quality cases were made to take a specific instrument. Modern factory made cases have lots of styrofoam and plush to avoid this issue so one case takes all. Another design consideration for polkat

Glenn