Any Tips On Measuring, Design, Blueprints For Leather Case?

[Canary Bird]

Any tips on measuring, design, blueprints for case?

 

I am going to be taking measurements of Marcus Butler’s Anglo G/D standard concertina that is here right now in the Islands.

 

I will be in North Africa in April and there are leather workers there who will take on a project like a bag or case and complete it in a couple days. They obviously have a different market price for these types of projects … that would better be in my price range.

 

I love these beautiful cases that have been in threads or internet (see below). I initially am considering it to be round/cylindrical or hexagon, load from the side, have a carrying handle and a shoulder strap. … using snaps or/and zippers? … but maybe square or hexagon. I think the cylindrical/hexagonal is esthetically more beautiful.

 

Any tips on measuring the case to allow for some foam to go around interior of the case? Design ideas for a blueprints for case? … something else that I should consider that I am not even taking into consideration?

 

I would greatly appreciate any ideas or thoughts that you might have! Thank you!!

[Nigel]

Hello

I own the concertina in the middle photo - the one in the cylindrical case. It is a beautiful case and I love using it. However it does have one flaw. It is very hard to get the concertina out of the case! I have to wrap my concertina in a silk scarf and pull the scarf to get it out. But sometimes beauty trumps practicality.

Hope this helps.

 

Nigel

[Canary Bird]

Nigel, your case is beautiful! I love the idea of the silk scarf.

 

Could I ask,

~ do you feel like the "zipper round side closure" & connection for shoulder strap is a system that works? Holds up to the weight/stress?

~ how many centimeters on the sides (maybe from like the corners) is there from the actual leather to allow for padding?

~ how many centimeters from the top & bottom are padding?

~ do you think it has the right amount of space for padding, but not to make the case too big?

 

I would anticipate more space for padding/protection will be better than too little, but just wanted to get an idea.

 

THANK YOU for any thoughts that you might have!

[Nigel]

Hello Canary Bird

 

I will have a proper look at the case at the weekend and give you any measurements that you need. It is well padded but doesn't feel at all bulky. I hope you have success with whatever leather case you choose. Itis such a beautiful material and gets better with age.

 

All the best

 

Nigel

[Canary Bird]

Thanks Nigel! Yes, I agree that leather and natural materials have a feel & look that matches the "concertina aura" of a hand built instrument.

[Chris Ghent]

Using non organic materials is convenient but you need to ask yourself how long they are going to last. I say this in reference to the word foam. Modern engineered materials are not always very stable and foam can become friable or coalesce into a sticky mass over a few decades. If you know the case or lining will be renewed every few decades then no problem, but the instrument could be around for another hundred years at least and using foam means is a lot of work needed on the case over that time period.

 

Older cases (wood and leather) had nothing in the way of insulation other than a thin felt or flocked fabric glued to the inside of frame, and they were fairly successful cases. When I say successful, I suspect the longevity of an instrument can be measured partly by the case it is in. An instrument without a case may as well be on a table with a missing leg. Damp, heat and dropping are the dangers. Most older cases will not help if the instrument is stored exposed to damp or heat, and they are only partially effective with dropping. The leather cases ie. Jeffries are probably the best for this as they will absorb more of the energy.

 

The old Jeffries cases had two flaws, they encouraged you to store the instrument sitting on its end, with consequent damage to valves, and more importantly they shrank over time leading to the instrument becoming stuck inside.

 

Sorry, long winded! It seems all I am saying is, leave room for shrinkage and don't use foam.

 

Cheers

 

Chris

[Nigel]

Sorry to take so long to reply. Why is it that weekends, which should be a time for relaxing,seem to be as busy as the working week?
Anyway, the padding inside the case is about 2 cm thick, all around the inside and at both ends. I presume it must be some kind of foam covered in a flock type fabric. I don't really want to pull it apart to find out. Chris'comments about using foam do make sense. However I don't store my concertina in the case(which would leave it sitting on its end - not a good idea). The concertina sits on a shelf, ready to be played if I get the chance. I only use the case when I'm transporting it - which doesn't happen that often.
I do like the shoulder strap. It is a convenient and comfortable way to carry it. The clasps that attach the strap to the rings on the case have a swivel on them so the strap can rotate right round.
I do love this case, but it is not the greatest design. As I mentioned before the top opening makes it difficult to get the concertina out of the case, which is why I have to wrap it in a scarf so I can pull the scarf to get the concertina out. Its not a big problem, it works fine, but I probably wouldn't recommend you copy the design.
I hope this helps. Good luck with designing your case. I would love to see a photo of the finished product.
Nigel

Edited January 30, 2017 by Nigel

[DDF]

This was my first attempt at a Jeffries style case ,plenty of room for improvement.I like that type of case and they seem to seem to last better than most designs and protect the contents pretty well.As Chris mentions one problem with them is they do shrink so with that in mind I used a extra thick lining so it could be replaced with the normal thin velvet at a later date should this be a problem.Many years ago I made a similar shape case and behind the lining I put two layers of corrugated cardboard .That seems to have stood the test of time well as that concertina has been in and out of its case almost daily since 1980.Jeffries cases store on their sides well .I usually store mine with the handle facing one direction then after a few months I face it in the other direction.I guess its like turning a fine wine. David.

[RP3]

Nigel, whatever you do, I would recommend that you not use any woolen, cotton or similar materials inside the case since stray fibers will undoubtedly find their way into the reeds. Good luck with your case design and as mentioned earlier, do not incorporate a design that will leave the instrument on its ends. Also don't make things so tight that you have trouble extracting the concertina as the likely damage will be to the bellows. That was one of the biggest problems with the old wooden cases.

 

Ross Schlabach

[Canary Bird]

Thank you for all this great input! ... this really helps! Yes, I will send photos with the completed project.

 

I am thinking that I might try to have a couple case designs made and use/keep the one that I like and sell the other or keep to for the future for another instrument.

 

Thank you again for this help!