Chapter 19
1800's style case making
Page 1
Guitar case making in an antique style.
The reason for delving into antique style case making is to give replicators of period instruments the ability to present their replicas in a period case.
Two original cases from the Ostberg collection are pictured in the Martin Guitars an ilustrated celebration of Americas premier guitarmaker by Washburn and Johnston. On page 6 is a photo of an original Martin case. One of the original cases is an original Martin case. This original case was given to me by Robert Ruck after the death of a mutual friend and guitarmaker Thomas Johmston. Johmston found this guitar case in an antique/curio shop in Door County, Wisconsin near where he lived. The owner of the shop removed the insides of the case put shelves in it for displaying of curios. In the future I hope to restore this case to original.
I have purpously did not put case making in sequence to encourage more intense study of the sequence.
The starting point is the dimensions of the guitar requiring the case. Add about ½ “ over the size of the guitar to give the inside dimensions of the case. The angles of the case joints are determined by the body size of the guitar, hence no dimensions are given. The wood used is American basswood or linden from Wisconsin,poplar was also used. The originals are basswood also.
The replica case pictured, is painted black as are the originals,The brass hinges and handle are fabricated, at the site shop with Torres peg head crest. In the image of the handle you will see broken wiggle engraving on the brass,this represents Robert Ruck and the year 2005 who is the recipient of the guitar and case.
Commercially produced draw catches were used rather than replicate the hook type of the original case for safety reasons. The site case replica does, not have a lock as did the originals, reason being, often when the key is lost case is damaged in opening. The replica case lining is valvet with velvet rope in the corner. A commercially produced Krylon spray flat black was used with french polish over. All was done with hide glue.
