Homemade cases?

[David Tseng]

Jaeger brand was top of the line, particularly the shaped Berlin Case was the most expensive. The GEWA line was a lot cheaper. I think they didn't insert the foam inside the blanket after 1980s. One time a young lady wanted to look at my violin. She didn't know the blanket was attached to the case at 2 points on the outer edge, and pulled it really hard and torn the thread. I re-sewed it back and didn't find any thing inside.

[Sharron]

Sharron - Are you a violin maker? I'm glad you are considering making a case and you have summarized the challenge succintly. It isn't possible to conceive of a case that is universally acceptable so a decision needs to be made as to what is required of it.

I'm almost ashamed to say that for me, appearance comes high on the list. Well, it could be a little shabby on the outside but it needs to look like a million dollars when I open it up.

Glenn

So far this has to be my favourite case picture that you have posted.

Pretty, but understated on the outside and comfy looking on the inside.

The one with the stand attached would be a *piece of furniture* and presumably somewhere to place the violin when not in use.

I wonder if you have all your cases Glenn filled with violins although I think not

I also would place a great emphasis on the interior having a sedate wow factor, but then I would also not wish to pull my violin from such a comfortable and plush bed.

I am the one who is in awe and asks stupid questions on this forum Glenn. I will in the next couple of weeks be finishing my 5th violin....call me a late starter.

As for making a case, well it has to wait for now as I am having enough brain/hand/eye co-ordination going on learning to make violins. As usual though for me I enjoy trying to get some of what is written to slowly build up and therefore sets my brain cogs in motion for a *hopefully* better understanding when I am ready to tackle the *next* step.

Thank you for posting these pictures Glenn.

Sharron

[GlennYorkPA]

So far this has to be my favourite case picture that you have posted.

Pretty, but understated on the outside and comfy looking on the inside.

The one with the stand attached would be a *piece of furniture* and presumably somewhere to place the violin when not in use.

I wonder if you have all your cases Glenn filled with violins although I think not

I also would place a great emphasis on the interior having a sedate wow factor, but then I would also not wish to pull my violin from such a comfortable and plush bed.

I am the one who is in awe and asks stupid questions on this forum Glenn. I will in the next couple of weeks be finishing my 5th violin....call me a late starter.

As for making a case, well it has to wait for now as I am having enough brain/hand/eye co-ordination going on learning to make violins. As usual though for me I enjoy trying to get some of what is written to slowly build up and therefore sets my brain cogs in motion for a *hopefully* better understanding when I am ready to tackle the *next* step.

Thank you for posting these pictures Glenn.

Sharron

Thanks for your kind comments, Sharron.

It's true that the case on stand is really a piece of furniture and a bit of nonsense. The length of a violin case is determined by the bow, not the violin, and yet this particular case has no clips or spinners for a bow. It strikes me as something made by a master cabinet maker who knew nothing about violins. That's all part of its charm.

On the other hand, the one you like (the last one I posted) was conceived by Paul Bailly and lined by his wife. I know this because it is signed by her inside and dated 1883. Violins were in the DNA of this family and you should take heart from the fact that the daughter, Jenny, was a truly talented and, in my view, under appreciated luthier.

I don't have enough violins to fill all my cases. I can only accommodate the cases by piling them up although some of the better ones get to be displayed and do contain violins. I try to match the violins with cases (why doesn't everyone???).

So the Bailly case contains a Castagnieri, the Hill apostle, a Pamphilon, the Strad case a Goffriller (sadly I don't own a Strad violin to go in it but I pay attention to the nationalities).

Collecting cases is much cheaper than collecting violins.

Glenn

[GlennYorkPA]

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!

A small point, worth pointing, out is the treatment of the hinges.

Violin cases fall into two categories, those that have a strap to support the open lid in a nearly vertical position, and those that don't.

Somewhere around 1900, English cases makers figured out how to make a hinge that would take the strain of the lid and hold it almost vertical. It's a neat trick and involves projecting flaps at the rear. I think I would award extra points to anyone attempting this.

Glenn

[fiddlecollector]

A small point, worth pointing, out is the treatment of the hinges.

Violin cases fall into two categories, those that have a strap to support the open lid in a nearly vertical position, and those that don't.

Somewhere around 1900, English cases makers figured out how to make a hinge that would take the strain of the lid and hold it almost vertical. It's a neat trick and involves projecting flaps at the rear. I think I would award extra points to anyone attempting this.

Glenn

[GlennYorkPA]

Bob,

With that smiley face, fiddlecollector makes an interesting point.

All along, we have been assuming that the titile of this thread 'Homemade Cases' refers to violin cases. I'm sure that's what polkat intended, but Bob is probably too modest to point out that he made a magnificent bow case.

Good bow cases are as rare as good violin cases and, because they travel less than instrument cases, there is more freedom for artistic expression.

In this example, based on a Hill model, the lid is self supporting when open.

Bob, were you able to buy these hinges or am I correct in thinking you made them yourself?

Glenn

[fiddlecollector]

Bob,

With that smiley face, fiddlecollector makes an interesting point.

All along, we have been assuming that the titile of this thread 'Homemade Cases' refers to violin cases. I'm sure that's what polkat intended, but Bob is probably too modest to point out that he made a magnificent bow case.

Good bow cases are as rare as good violin cases and, because they travel less than instrument cases, there is more freedom for artistic expression.

In this example, based on a Hill model, the lid is self supporting when open.

Bob, were you able to buy these hinges or am I correct in thinking you made them yourself?

Glenn

Hi Glenn, The hinges i had to make them ,you cant buy them,there is one manufacterer who does something on a similar principle but they arent like the Hills type.

[GlennYorkPA]

Hi Glenn, The hinges had to be made ,you cant but them,there is one manufacterer who does something on a similar principle but they arent like the Hills type.

That's what I thought. Hills made everything in house including the hinges, apparently. It's interesting that in the early days, they used this type of hinge together with a small strap until they became sufficiently confident that the hinges alone would do the job.

Glenn

[hobbyjob]

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

This is a real old post and the link identified is no longer up. Does anyone know if the book is still available?

 

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

This is a really old thread but hopefully someone will have the information. Is this book still available?

[GlennYorkPA]

This is a real old post and the link identified is no longer up. Does anyone know if the book is still available?

 

This is a really old thread but hopefully someone will have the information. Is this book still available?

 

My website was highjacked several years ago but the book 'The Art & History of Violin Cases' is still available from Amazon.com   http://www.amazon.com/The-Art-History-Violin-Cases/dp/1434368572

 

Any questions, please feel free to ask.

 

Glenn

[not telling]

OT, but this thread is ancient anyway: does anyone make special shipping cases for violin/viola/cello? Cheap enough to send off and never get back, but durable enough to be sent between shops/makers for years?

If not someone should. If yes, where can such a thing be found?

[Dwight Brown]

I remember that the ultimate case when I was a kid was the Jaeger Berlin(er)?  Does anyone have a link or a good picture of one.  I can't remember exacly how it looked.  I think it had kind of a high peaked top, but I'm not sure.

 

 

DLB

[Dwight Brown]

OT, but this thread is ancient anyway: does anyone make special shipping cases for violin/viola/cello? Cheap enough to send off and never get back, but durable enough to be sent between shops/makers for years?

If not someone should. If yes, where can such a thing be found?

I have seen some special boxes that are intended for one way shipping  josephcurtinstudios.com   has them, but not really cheap.  I have one of these and it seems to be crazy strong.  http://www.bobelock.com/violinCases/1016%20Fiberglass.html  I have used it to ship my Matsuda fiddle.  It is really small and is not big enough for a bow, just the violin.  I don't know if it is something you would want to use one way though.  It is a lot easier to box up for shipping.

 

 

DLB

 

 

DLB

[Kirk Hunter]

Here's one:

[MANFIO]

Nice case!

[Kirk Hunter]

17 minutes ago, MANFIO said:

Nice case!

Thanks.  It's a beast and HEAVY!  But it IS waterproof.

[GlennYorkPA]

1 hour ago, Kirk Hunter said:

Thanks.  It's a beast and HEAVY!  But it IS waterproof.

I'm stuck for words. It seems someone attached a plastic covering on each side. Was that you or did it come like that?

A lot of work went into the piping and cloth selection for the interior.

Please tell more of the background to this case.

Glenn

[Kirk Hunter]

19 minutes ago, GlennYorkPA said:

I'm stuck for words. It seems someone attached a plastic covering on each side. Was that you or did it come like that?

A lot of work went into the piping and cloth selection for the interior.

Please tell more of the background to this case.

Glenn

It's not plastic.  It's epoxy resin.  It's actually a case I made as a very rough "prototype".  (I was going to try to commission someone to put one together more professionally.)  My workmanship is so poor, that everyone seeing it thinks it's an old case that's been cleaned up/restored.  Ok, I'll take that!    It's solid plywood with a walnut veneer.

[crazy jane]

On 5/7/2015 at 3:03 AM, not telling said:

OT, but this thread is ancient anyway: does anyone make special shipping cases for violin/viola/cello? Cheap enough to send off and never get back, but durable enough to be sent between shops/makers for years?

If not someone should. If yes, where can such a thing be found?

 

Just noticed this thread. These Bobelock cases don't accommodate a bow, rosin, etc., except in the outer pocket, but are sturdy and cheap. https://www.amazon.com/Bobelock-1016S-Shipping-Instrument-Suspension/dp/B06WLMYJVW

[Dimitri Musafia]

I like the thick rope cording bumper around the perimeter. It reminds me of a certain Nordic-style trawler yacht, can't remember the name though. 

[jacklinks]

20 hours ago, Kirk Hunter said:

Here's one:

Nice case. How much does it weigh?

[Kirk Hunter]

1 hour ago, Dimitri Musafia said:

I like the thick rope cording bumper around the perimeter. It reminds me of a certain Nordic-style trawler yacht, can't remember the name though. 

The only reason I put on that thick roping was to hide my hideous job of doing clean seams on the veneer work.  Luckily, I treated the roping that holds up to moderate wear.

[Kirk Hunter]

1 hour ago, jacklinks said:

Nice case. How much does it weigh?

9.8 lbs.

[GlennYorkPA]

21 hours ago, Kirk Hunter said:

9.8 lbs.

Did you buy the bow spinners or make them yourself? I'm curious to know if spinners are available 'off the shelf' and if alternative bow holders are available,.

Glenn

[Kirk Hunter]

2 hours ago, GlennYorkPA said:

Did you buy the bow spinners or make them yourself? I'm curious to know if spinners are available 'off the shelf' and if alternative bow holders are available,.

Glenn

I yanked them off of an old beat up case.  Truthfully, I was going to make them out of wood myself, but at that point, I got impatient!