Homemade cases?

[CT Dolan]

Glenn,

Thank you for emailing the pictures, however for some reason they did not get through. I seem destined to not see these images up close! Maybe it is for the better. After seeing the pictures, I'd look at my case (a decent one by normal standards) and suddenly it would seem less than adequate.

Chris

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn,

Thank you for emailing the pictures, however for some reason they did not get through. I seem destined to not see these images up close! Maybe it is for the better. After seeing the pictures, I'd look at my case (a decent one by normal standards) and suddenly it would seem less than adequate.

Chris

Chris,

How do you mean the pictures didn't get through?

Were they not attached to my email?

It's beginning to sound as though you have a software issue associated with pictures.

Pity, because this is a very visual topic - design is critical and as they so accurately say, a picture is worth 1000 words.

Glenn

[CT Dolan]

Glenn,

Sorry, the email did not get through. I'll give you another address, chris.dolan (@scottequipment.com).

Thanks,

Chris

[welshman]

Hi, Back in my days studing to become a violin maker/restorer I had a nice assortment of woodworking tools available and I made myself a custom violin case for a Baroque Violin project. The general pattern is from the Hill book on Stadivari, He made a coffin shape case (page 247 in my paperback copy) His looks to be leather covered with a pattern of rivits but mine is made from wlanut with a tong oil finish. The interior took a bit of trying but foam cut to shape, spray adhesive and velour cloth cut a stretched did the job. The bow holders ended up in a strinage position because of the 45 angle corners. I can post some photos and a general description of how I did it if there is interest. Case hardware was from a hordware catalog or maybe Stewart?McDonald supply, It has been 20 years now so I'm trying to jog some long dormant memories. I did design it to open flat with the top and bottom sections equal heights or thickness, the bottom section has a thin lining along the inside to provide a closing/sealing lip.

The master I studies with was a master Lute maker and all the cases for them were indivually made to shape, We used aircraft plywood, thin and easily heat bent to form curves, We just painted the exterior black with a texture paint.

Fun project even got to custom turn little feet for the case out of antler stock.

The drawing caption in the Hill book reads "an original stradivari case, made to contain a violin" I don't see where they got this from or where it is now, I'll have to reread the chapter.

Reese Williams

[GlennYorkPA]

Hi, Back in my days studing to become a violin maker/restorer I had a nice assortment of woodworking tools available and I made myself a custom violin case for a Baroque Violin project. The general pattern is from the Hill book on Stadivari, He made a coffin shape case (page 247 in my paperback copy) His looks to be leather covered with a pattern of rivits but mine is made from wlanut with a tong oil finish. The interior took a bit of trying but foam cut to shape, spray adhesive and velour cloth cut a stretched did the job. The bow holders ended up in a strinage position because of the 45 angle corners. I can post some photos and a general description of how I did it if there is interest. Case hardware was from a hordware catalog or maybe Stewart?McDonald supply, It has been 20 years now so I'm trying to jog some long dormant memories. I did design it to open flat with the top and bottom sections equal heights or thickness, the bottom section has a thin lining along the inside to provide a closing/sealing lip.

The master I studies with was a master Lute maker and all the cases for them were indivually made to shape, We used aircraft plywood, thin and easily heat bent to form curves, We just painted the exterior black with a texture paint.

Fun project even got to custom turn little feet for the case out of antler stock.

The drawing caption in the Hill book reads "an original stradivari case, made to contain a violin" I don't see where they got this from or where it is now, I'll have to reread the chapter.

Reese Williams

Reese,

I'm very interested to hear you made your own case and that you used a Stradivari case as your model. From the illustration in the Hill book you would not have known what the inside of the case looked like so you were free to use your imagination.

I managed to track that case down, the one illustrated on p247 and it is illustrated in my book but I'm happy to post the pictures here, open and closed, but only AFTER you post pictures of your case. Deal?

Glenn

PS Chris, I re-sent the pictures to your new email address.

[captainhook]

Glenn,

If you post those pictures here, would you please cut them down to 100KB so we can all see them? They would also email a lot better.

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn,

If you post those pictures here, would you please cut them down to 100KB so we can all see them? They would also email a lot better.

I would willingly reduce the size because I didn't know anyone else was having a problem viewing them. The trouble is that I don't know how to reduced them.

I use Adobe Photoelements and I can't see how to save a smaller file size. There is an option to 'save for web'. I thought that might be better but it saved as a GIF file which was larger than the JPG.

Any suggestions?

Glenn

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn,

If you post those pictures here, would you please cut them down to 100KB so we can all see them? They would also email a lot better.

Oh wait. I think I just figured out how to do this.

Is this any better?

Glenn

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn,

If you post those pictures here, would you please cut them down to 100KB so we can all see them? They would also email a lot better.

....and here is the Hill 'apostle' case with Gofriller inside.

Glenn

[polkat]

Glenn, did you get my PM?

[GlennYorkPA]

Glenn, did you get my PM?

Polkat, yes, I finally noticed your PM and replied to that and by regular email. Did reducing the size of the picture make them more visible?

Glenn

[captainhook]

Glenn:

"Oh wait. I think I just figured out how to do this.

Is this any better?"

Much better. Thanks.

Lyle

[Tim McTigue]

....and here is the Hill 'apostle' case with Gofriller inside.

Glenn

Dude, that is a seriously amazing case! I keep coming back just to look at it. It looks like some kind of cryogenic chamber, or something... the velour actually seems to be lit up. Definitely befitting a famous instrument...

[MeyerFittings]

This is the only photo I have of a case that I made for a baroque guitar completed in the 80's. Bob Lundberg used to make cases for his lutes. I made this one at his shop using birch plywood, foam, velour and luggage hardware and vinyl auto seat covering. It was way too much work but necessary since there were none commercially available for the shape. The lid was designed to open that way since Bob's lute cases worked the same. I remember little about the prcess except ironing the vinyl. I travelled to Europe with this case and except for some dings in the covering it's still perfect protection for a delicate instrument.

[welshman]

Hi Glen, I just received my issue of the VSA papers, i will enjoy reading your article. I will post you some photos of my walnut case as soon as i take some new ones, I can seem to find the old ones to scan in (pre digital and computer). I'll need a quick lesson from my wife on how to load them in the right size but they will be coming.

Reese

[GlennYorkPA]

Hi Glen, I just received my issue of the VSA papers, i will enjoy reading your article. I will post you some photos of my walnut case as soon as i take some new ones, I can seem to find the old ones to scan in (pre digital and computer). I'll need a quick lesson from my wife on how to load them in the right size but they will be coming.

Reese

Welshman,

I'm excited to hear that the VSA Papers is finally being distributed. I haven't seen it yet so I don't know how it looks or what I wrote. What you have just received is Papers Summer 2007; yes, it's taken a year and a half to come out so I hope it was worth waiting for.

They were going to put a violin case on the cover to indicate the growing interest in the subject. Did this happen?

I look forward to seeing your walnut case.

Glenn

[GlennYorkPA]

Dude, that is a seriously amazing case! I keep coming back just to look at it. It looks like some kind of cryogenic chamber, or something... the velour actually seems to be lit up. Definitely befitting a famous instrument...

Tim,

Thanks Dude. If you receive VSA Papers, you will see it illustrated on the front cover.

The velour is unusual because the design is not painted on nor is it cut. It seems to be embossed such that all the small, silk hairs are still there but they lie in different directions so a lot of light is reflected back. I don't think such material is still available today.

Glenn

[fiddlecollector]

Tim,

Thanks Dude. If you receive VSA Papers, you will see it illustrated on the front cover.

The velour is unusual because the design is not painted on nor is it cut. It seems to be embossed such that all the small, silk hairs are still there but they lie in different directions so a lot of light is reflected back. I don't think such material is still available today.

Glenn

Hi Glenn, im nearly certain its called `Utrecht velvet`,it was developed in the 17th century in the Belgium /Flemish area as a alternative to the extremely expensive Genoa Velvets.The quality was in no way inferior to Genoa Velvet ,just that pattern was applied with rollers instead of being part of the weave.

[GlennYorkPA]

Hi Glenn, im nearly certain its called `Utrecht velvet`,it was developed in the 17th century in the Belgium /Flemish area as a alternative to the extremely expensive Genoa Velvets.The quality was in no way inferior to Genoa Velvet ,just that pattern was applied with rollers instead of being part of the weave.

Fiddlecollector,

You are an amazing source of information!

I have never heard of either Utrecht velvet or Genoa velvet but I bet you are correct.

It looks as though the pattern was in a heated roller which then passed over some regular velvet and crushed the fibers according to the pattern.

That's an interesting aspect of cases; so many materials are used in their construction, fabrics, wood, leather, metal and more recently plastics, foam, carbon fiber, fiberglass...............

I have a preference for the traditional, tried and tested materials but it is interesting to see what some makers are doing with modern ones.

Glenn

[welshman]

Hello Glen and Polkat,

This topic has legs as they say, Polkat started this a while ago, in any event here goes with my attempt to attach some photos of my case effort, If you remember it is based on the Stradivari design in the Hill book but only in the general shape, details of construction and measurments were worked out as I went. The Walnut all came from one plank as I remember, I resawed and book matched the top and bottom, then formed the sides from the rest, the wood grain goes around the sides in a continous flow. I hand planed the surfaces then cut the 45 corners, used tape hinges across the outside of the 45s and folded the box up. After the sides were dry the top and bottom were glued on and trimed, I then used a handsaw (Japanese design) to cut the box into two equal halves. The lining on the bottom half is Alaska Yellow Cedar, this forms the lip for the top to close, the rest is hardware and the foam lining. Sure wish now I had looked for the material pictured in the cases you photographed Glenn. Finish is tong oil with the interior finished with wax (done before glue up so the glue run out wouldn"t stick and clean up easier.

The students at the school all made small boxes in this manner out of scrap wood, they made such impressive gift, especiall for the ladies we were courting at the time. Small ones could be used for stationary or jewery boxes.

I will attempt to attach the photos now, be warned I am not a technogy guy.

[Sharron]

That looks very professional.

I like it.

Sharron

[welshman]

Well, that worked out ok, Lucky for me my wife is a teckie, As long as I'm here I thought you might like to see the latest restoration project I'm doing for Oberlin college, This had to be totally reglued with the back braces loose, open center seams and open cracks, lots of bad work on it over the years had rendered it unplayable See if you can pick out the pegs I hand carved from a cello peg to replace a broken one, and imagine how to thread the coiled up steel strings back under the fingerboard and over three nuts to their pegs (these a sympathic strings to the main strings seven each in total. In the photos the seven main playable strings and the tailpiece is still off, I'm waiting for a special tail loop to arrive. The back is flat with three interior cross braces and sloped shoulder like a gamba. Its played as a Viola. I'll also leave you to wonder as to the player tuning 14 pegs, at least all the pegs are refit and working now.

Reese Williams

[GlennYorkPA]

Hello Glen and Polkat,

This topic has legs as they say, Polkat started this a while ago, in any event here goes with my attempt to attach some photos of my case effort, If you remember it is based on the Stradivari design in the Hill book but only in the general shape, details of construction and measurments were worked out as I went. The Walnut all came from one plank as I remember, I resawed and book matched the top and bottom, then formed the sides from the rest, the wood grain goes around the sides in a continous flow. I hand planed the surfaces then cut the 45 corners, used tape hinges across the outside of the 45s and folded the box up. After the sides were dry the top and bottom were glued on and trimed, I then used a handsaw (Japanese design) to cut the box into two equal halves. The lining on the bottom half is Alaska Yellow Cedar, this forms the lip for the top to close, the rest is hardware and the foam lining. Sure wish now I had looked for the material pictured in the cases you photographed Glenn. Finish is tong oil with the interior finished with wax (done before glue up so the glue run out wouldn"t stick and clean up easier.

The students at the school all made small boxes in this manner out of scrap wood, they made such impressive gift, especiall for the ladies we were courting at the time. Small ones could be used for stationary or jewery boxes.

I will attempt to attach the photos now, be warned I am not a technogy guy.

Welshman,

I'm very impressed by this case.

Anything made of solid walnut is bound to be easy on the eye and your attention to detail, including the spinners (did you make them?) and the lining is all well done.

What are those 3 rectangles of wood at the front on the inside of the lid?

I might have preferred a brown handle rather than black. Was that a conscious choice?

And now, as promised, here are a couple of shots of the case by Stradivari that inspired your work. Very few people have ever seen inside this case.

Enjoy.

[welshman]

Hi Glenn,

yes the bow holders are hand made/carved, I just realized that a Baroque bow doesn't fit, I made them for a modern bow and would have to move them for a baroque style bow, the extra pieces of wood are to ensure enough thickness in the wall for the hardware screws, you are right about the handle color, may have to change it, I'm guessing its what the catalog listed, which catalog I have no idea now. the case has small feet turned out of elk antler. I made the case walls as thin and graceful as I felt I could hense the extra areas.

Where is the Stad case now?

Reese

[GlennYorkPA]

Hi Glenn,

yes the bow holders are hand made/carved, I just realized that a Baroque bow doesn't fit, I made them for a modern bow and would have to move them for a baroque style bow, the extra pieces of wood are to ensure enough thickness in the wall for the hardware screws, you are right about the handle color, may have to change it, I'm guessing its what the catalog listed, which catalog I have no idea now. the case has small feet turned out of elk antler. I made the case walls as thin and graceful as I felt I could hense the extra areas.

Where is the Stad case now?

Reese

Nice job with the bow spinners. many modern ones are spring loaded with a cross between the rotating part and the static part so that the rotor can only be vertical or horizontal and nothing in between. Have you noticed that? It's to prevent the bow coming loose in the case and falling onto the violin. It's one of those little benefits of injection molding but difficult to simulate in a hand crafted part.

Why did you place them at the LHS? Isn't that a little uncomfortable for loading and unloading the bows?

As far as the Strad case is concerned. It sat in the window of Hills in London for a hundred years but eventually migrated West. The present owner wishes to remain anonymous but I was able to inspect and photograph it in Washington DC.

(Did you notice no bow holders at all in the Strad case? I think it was relined by Hills and the present interior is not original. Just my opinion).