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Greetings, the 20s G&S MasterKraft Loar mandolin cases I see online in various photos have the handle replaced with a utility handle or the handle is missing. The nickel plated straps with incised borders supported by the D-Rings seem unique to these cases? Is there a restorative cure for the broken handles out there in Cafe' land? Anyone crafting repros fitted to the original straps? How to fabricate a replica? TIA Sam
Sign up here:https://www.facebook.com/groups/vint...strumentcases/
Steve Kirtley does visit this site but his Facebook site is where you will get the most interaction on this sort of matter.
The handles were used on things other than mandolin cases as well. Luggage and cases for horns come to mind. Nick is pointing you in the right direction.
I got a strap on replacement handle for my 90 year old case .. 2 kinds; depending on the ring orientation on the case..
Was in Paper catalog from a music store supply company ..
it was many years ago ..
:mandosmiley:
About three years ago I found a leather craftsman that could make very nice replica leather handles for the old Gibson and other cases. I was able to help out quite a few collectors and everyone seemed very pleased. Several ended up on original rectangular Loar cases as I recall. I sold all five dozen of the first batch in a few months. When I asked for more unfortunately the price was much higher, almost $37 plus mailing and I thought they might not be wanted at the new price plus I needed to order another five dozen. As I was doing this just to help other collectors and not as a business I didn’t pursue them further. Here is a link to the previous thread with photos. If there is enough interest I could approach the maker again. They are very nice handles.
https://www.mandolincafe.com/forum/t...ght=Lynch+case
Mark
Mark,
I would definitely buy one at the $37 plus mailing price. I need one for my circa 1920 Vega case, and didn't act quickly enough when you last offered them. Have been kicking myself ever since. Now all we need are another 59 interested vintage mando pickers!
Greg
These handles on the Loar cases are leather with metal ends but without a metal reinforcing strip inside. When the leather ages these handles break. I think I've seen only one Loar case with the original handle. I've seen the same handle on earlier violin cases. There were companies that specialized in manufacturing handles, so Geib & Schaefer obviously ordered a deluxe handle that they thought was fitting for their most expensive instrument case.
I've built a replicas. It's a lot of work.
Attachment 194154
Attachment 194188 This photo depicts a broken Loar case handle and the unique straps that appear to be riveted to the multi-layered leather handle. It seems these straps would be required to replicate this style of handle. How to remove and replace the rivets?
You should be able to take some pliers-needle nose and widen the metal D rings, they'll come right out. Please don't take out the whole ring bracket on a Loar case!!!!
As Will says, there is no need to remove the rivets. The ends of the D rings that are covered by the metal strap are not welded together so you can easily spread the D-ring open to unhook it from the strap. Click on the link in posting #5 above to see some pictures of the procedure. A set of inexpensive snap ring pliers makes spreading the D-Ring open easier, a padded slip joint pliers can be used for closing the D-ring once the new handle is in place. Sorry I don’t have any more handles to send you.
Mark
If you are going to use the old metal straps to build a new handle then the D-rings are only part of the issue. You will need to remove the rivets that attach the metal straps to the leather. They are peened over. It may be necessary to drill them out or grind them off. You may not be able to reuse the rivets, so will need new ones. (If you assemble the leather and metal straps of the new handle directly onto the D-rings you can avoid removing the D-rings from the case.)
I started from scratch and created my own metal straps. I used sheet nickel silver, available from a craft supply house. I cut the part to shape and pounded an arch into the top portion, to resemble the originals. The originals have a line around the edge but I didn't try to duplicate that. The good thing about sheet nickel silver is that it can be polished to a finish that will match the other nickel plated parts, and will save an expensive trip to the plating shop.
Here's a close up of one of my metal straps.
Steve
Attachment 194199
Here's a handy tool for opening and closing the d-ring:
https://www.amazon.com/Satco-90-099-...11478968&psc=1
I have to admit, I just placed closed pointed-nosed pliers inside the D-ring- and opened them up carefully and the ring opened easily.
All
Good news! I soon hope to have some more leather replica case handles like the ones I posted about in reply #5 above!
I know some of you were looking for some earlier in the year.
I’ll place an ad in the classified when I have approved the samples. The price increase was less than I feared.
This is not business for me, I’m just happy to get good replacement handles on some old cases!
Best,
Mark
Great Mark! Thanks in advance for working on this.