Vintage string packages

[johnl]

Very cool! Do you know the brand (or the timeframe they're from)?

[Martin Jonas]

These are all interesting. For some reason, there seems to have been much less variety of strings in the UK: most of the old instruments I've bought off Ebay UK have had some string packages in them, and it has always been the same brand, with the same package design: Cathedral Strings. Considering that most of these instruments were over 100 years old, and that there must have been a wide range of dates of "last played", that's quite remarkable in its own right and suggests that not only was there a virtual monopoly but also no change in design over a period of decades.

I feel a bit foolish now seeing Jim's collection, but I don't think I've kept any of the packages. Oh well, no doubt I will come across another one...

Martin

[David Newton]

Wow Jim, somebody has been collecting! I should send you mine, so you can corner the market.

[Graham McDonald]

Here are a couple more.

the first....

[Graham McDonald]

and another

I do have a small selection of packets on the website, and some more to be scanned in. I thought I was the only person interested, but one of the first couple of issues of the Fretboard Journal had a delightful photo essay of some really interesting ones. Older music shops usually have a box of stray strings under a bench somewhere, which they don't ever want to throw out, but don't know what else to do with, and it is usually worthwhile asking if they want to get rid of them

cheers

graham

[Jim Garber]

I do have a small selection of packets on the website, and some more to be scanned in.

Here is Graham's string packet page. I must have missed that the last time I visited.

Nice collection. My favorite is the omnipresent Cathedral (as noted by Martin above). Looks like they cornered the market for tennis strings as well.


Jim

[testore]

Here are two rosin boxes from Vuillaume's shop @ 1860, and a box of violin E strings from a Sicilian music store @1900.I used one for a baroque violin that I fixed years ago and it was great. The box says they're silk but I'm not sure.

[David Newton]

You said it was OK to expand this to other "case candy" Jim? You know that means picks, right?

[Jim Garber]

You said it was OK to expand this to other "case candy" Jim? You know that means picks, right?

I sort of like that it stays with the packaging for strings and accessories, but, if you must...
However, I had started this thread some time ago.

Jim

[mrkrishna]

Garber, thanks for going to the trouble of posting (and collecting) these sets. Nicest suprise I've had all day....Kerry k

[Jim Garber]

Thanks, Kerry, but there are a few others who should be credited as posting here as well.

Jim

[jim simpson]

Here's my Gretsch Electromatic guitar strings label - it is a round plastic container that's great for holding those small items. Wouldn't a poster with all of the string packages look great?

[Fliss]

Here's a Black Diamond, I don't know how old this would be?

Fliss

[Fliss]

This is the front of the wrapper from the Black Diamond strings

Fliss

[Fliss]

And here's the back of the wrapper

Fliss

[Fliss]

I like this one - again, no idea of the period but it's decorative!

Fliss

[Charles Johnson]

Still other variations on "The Gibson" packages

[Charles Johnson]

Rotosound is an English brand - these look to be 60's era

[Charles Johnson]

Not mandolin but still cool. 1950s(?)Fender

[Charles Johnson]

More variations on the Black Diamond strings:

[Charles Johnson]

Not sure if these are old or not:

[f5loar]

Those BlackDiamond set shown above have a zip code on them so they are after 1964. I'm pretty sure some of the other Black Diamonds shown are 50's/60's and this set looks more mid to late 70's maybe even early 80's.

[bradeinhorn]

cool thread - whoever buys the gibson a-5 from 1964 gets a few pack envelopes like these - vintage monels and black diamonds.

[danb]

Here're my old black diamonds:

[danb]

Bell..