Rolindo Posted July 29, 2018 Report Share Posted July 29, 2018 Hi, I spent a couple of hours recently on the forum reading some of the Gordge threads and now it's my turn to create a new topic on these beautiful cases. Long story short, I inherited a Gordge case and I don't really know much about it (and violin in general). I am really wondering... is it an genuine one? When was it created? has a lot of marks from being used but funny enough the keys are still there for the lock system. I took a couple of pictures, looks really similar to some of them I have seen on Google images. Hope total newbies are welcome and thanks a lot for your help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
martin swan Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Looks very typical. I've never understood the appeal of these cases - they weigh an absolute ton Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennYorkPA Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Absolutely genuine and highly collectible (in spite of Martin's comment about the weight). Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Slight Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 6 hours ago, martin swan said: I've never understood the appeal of these cases - they weigh an absolute ton Because they will last an entire career and more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennYorkPA Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 5 hours ago, Dave Slight said: Because they will last an entire career and more. True. Mick Gordge honed his case-making skills in the Hanwell workshop of W.E. Hill and Sons and used only the best materials and construction methods. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rue Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 Hmm. Sturdy - sure. But not especially attractive - and I can't say exact why. Just a combo of odd/clashing shades? And does that matter? If you spend a lot of money - you want it to look nice. Or do you? Maybe a high price predisposes you to assume it must look nice? Or maybe you are happy just to have quality/protection (weight) and are not concerned with the appearance? I dunno... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlennYorkPA Posted July 30, 2018 Report Share Posted July 30, 2018 4 hours ago, Rue said: Hmm. Sturdy - sure. But not especially attractive - and I can't say exact why. Just a combo of odd/clashing shades? And does that matter? If you spend a lot of money - you want it to look nice. Or do you? Maybe a high price predisposes you to assume it must look nice? Or maybe you are happy just have quality/protection (weight) and are not concerned with the appearance? I dunno... This case would sell for more today than when it was new. That can't be said for many violin cases. It's a classic and he produced them in a variety of colors to suit different tastes. Olive green isn't my favorite either but attraction is in the eye of the beholder. Glenn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron MacDonald Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 I suspect that few are aware that after Mr. Gordge died, the firm was purchased by a Canadian, Henry Janzen. He renamed the firm "Farnham Caseworks" and began making them in Toronto. To the best of my knowledge, he made only two cases before folding, one for violin and one for viola. The viola case is mine and while it is a typical Gordge, the workmanship is not as good, particularly the cover. However, the case is so heavy, I rarely use it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rolindo Posted July 31, 2018 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 Thanks to ALL of you for the replies and confirming it's a genuine one! Not sure what I am going to do with it now as it has been lying around in my living room for a month and my wife starts getting angry at me about this "XL dirty green violin case". But at least, I know I shouldn't listen to her and simply throw it in the garbage - that would be a shame! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 On 7/29/2018 at 4:57 PM, Rolindo said: Hi, I spent a couple of hours recently on the forum reading some of the Gordge threads and now it's my turn to create a new topic on these beautiful cases. Long story short, I inherited a Gordge case and I don't really know much about it (and violin in general). I am really wondering... is it an genuine one? When was it created? has a lot of marks from being used but funny enough the keys are still there for the lock system. I took a couple of pictures, looks really similar to some of them I have seen on Google images. Hope total newbies are welcome and thanks a lot for your help! Congratulations, it's absolutely genuine. It's the "DeLuxe" model and I would say that a number of details date it to the 1990s. It's actually in quite nice condition, except the handle, if I see correctly. I've seen these sell at Tarisio's in excess of $1,000 (the last new ones went for about $800). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peter Lynch Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 I love these classical handmade English cases. I just purchased a Timms case (new Old stock c 2010). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 3 hours ago, Peter Lynch said: I love these classical handmade English cases. I just purchased a Timms case (new Old stock c 2010). Beautiful work! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 14 hours ago, Ron MacDonald said: I suspect that few are aware that after Mr. Gordge died, the firm was purchased by a Canadian, Henry Janzen. He renamed the firm "Farnham Caseworks" and began making them in Toronto. To the best of my knowledge, he made only two cases before folding, one for violin and one for viola. The viola case is mine and while it is a typical Gordge, the workmanship is not as good, particularly the cover. However, the case is so heavy, I rarely use it. Without Mick Gordge around to teach his secrets, unfortunately Mr. Janzen had little hope of equaling, or even coming close to, what a lifetime of case making taught Mick - who in turn had learned from the Hills. And there is another issue too: I'll get some flak for this, but the original Gordge design is now clearly outdated. Many aspects have been improved upon by other makers and now it's simply not possible to sell a case without full instrument suspension, back-pack fixtures, subway handle, etc etc. Not to mention the weight issue. It reminds me of my beloved Jaguar XJ, series X300, from '97. Many say it was the best XJ ever built and in fact I happily kept "Il Gattone" (the "big cat") no less than 13 years. Did I eventually buy the new model? No - that classic design had hit its apogee - the later models were something else, and I went elsewhere. The car buffs who also lurk around here will agree with me, at least on this! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
uncle duke Posted July 31, 2018 Report Share Posted July 31, 2018 59 minutes ago, Dimitri Musafia said: Jaguar XJ, series X300, from '97. Many say it was the best XJ ever built The car buffs who also lurk around here will agree with me, at least on this! Have someone who has the V-12 drive over to the residence of Mr. Burgess and ask him to replace the alternator. Then wait for his opinion afterwards. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pate Bliss Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 13 hours ago, Dimitri Musafia said: Beautiful work! I'd like to see more cases that have a pad on the lid to hold the neck down instead of a tie. If the pad was shaped like a hill fore and aft, but with the top and bottom sides flat it would look pretty sleek. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 14 hours ago, uncle duke said: Have someone who has the V-12 drive over to the residence of Mr. Burgess and ask him to replace the alternator. Then wait for his opinion afterwards. Um, that's why I had the straight-six ! :-) In 13 years, only scheduled maintenance + 6 coils (by Lucas - the Prince of Darkness, that's why, most everything else was Bosch) + timing chain tensioner which cost $80 and 20 minutes to install. I wish I could say the same of my current car... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 2 hours ago, Bill Merkel said: I'd like to see more cases that have a pad on the lid to hold the neck down instead of a tie. If the pad was shaped like a hill fore and aft, but with the top and bottom sides flat it would look pretty sleek. Do you know what the problem with the neck pad in the lid is? If the case pops open for any reason while you are carrying it, your violin will tumble out and onto the ground. A tie or Velcro will prevent that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pate Bliss Posted August 1, 2018 Report Share Posted August 1, 2018 I'm not leaving the house with my zipper open yet, but I'm getting there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dimitri Musafia Posted August 2, 2018 Report Share Posted August 2, 2018 Let me know when you do, and I'll send you some Velcro :-) That is, if I can remember where I put it... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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