I’ve just purchased a beautiful 1905 bowl back mandolin and I need to find a case for it. Would anyone have a clue as to where I’d look? It seems most of the mandolins in the U.S. are flat backed. I found one site that sold a very inexpensive chipboard case, but I need something a bit more substantial. Thak you.
That’s going to be a problem, I haven’t seen any of cases like that.
What you can do is order a case especially for that mandolin. There is a guy here in Poland, who has made a hard case for my bodhran and my mandolin. If you want I could contact you with him, perhaps he could do it.
Cheers
I suspect Hiscox cases in England may be able to help you - I don’t have contact details, but if you google you’ll likely find them easily enough - I suspect it’s not a very common name.I
One good place to look for a vintage bowlback case is on eBay; there’s a lot less risk with a case than when purchasing an instrument. Often you’ll see wall-hanger bowlbacks for very little, that may come with a vintage case. I purchased a vintage leather bowlback case (the type sometimes referrred to as a clownshoe) a while back in the classified adds on mandolincafe.com, which is a great place to look or even post an inquiry. Go to the classical wection of the board. There is a mandolincafe member that collects and restores bowlbacks and cases; his name is Peter Klima. Good luck.
If you or someone you know is handy with woodworking, you can build a functional (i.e, cheap and ugly) and strong case for your mandolin. It will protect the mandolin while you search for something more appropriate.
I’d do this:
Build a large rectangular box out of 3/8 plywood. It should be taller, longer and higher than the mandolin. Run one end through a table saw all the way around, which will create a lid. Put two hinges on the lid. Then, buy foam filler at your local fabric store.
Fill the box, and with a safety knife, cut out the foam so the mandolin fits inside. A coat of paint and a handle and you’ll have the strongest, cheapest, and ugliest case imaginable. I made one for my GHB practice chanter.
Thanks, everyone. Hiscox cases sent via link to some lovely, expensive-looking cases by Kingham--e-bay had some great looking stuff, and the mandolincafe classical page ended me up on a website in Italy that played beautiful music while I was browsing. Good thing the credit card was in the other room. Greg, were you an undertaker in a previous life??? I actually do have a friend that’s crazy for using power tools (a woman, no less)--I’m going to show her your instructions. Who knows what I’ll end up with?
Just be careful that your power-tool enthusiast doesn’t over-engineer….
My brother-in-law once made me an instrument case. He used solid oak for the wood, and apparently based his design on that of a cabinet drawer (a pair of them, actually, hinged in clamshell fashion). Sturdy, yes. Lightweight--certainly not. I ended up ditching it and buying something a lot easier to haul around.
Greg - I love the instructions. It’s just crying out for the old “Ask a grown-up to help you” line.
🙂
dmarie, what kind of 1905 bowl back mandolin.
I only ask because I have a 1906 bowl back mandolin from Italy…
I t has a sticker on the inside with lots of useful information about the mandolin, in Italian. ;)
kjay, my mandolin is American, a MayFlower, made by the Larson Bros. It’s still in shipping, so I haven’t gotten to see the label yet.
I believe the bowlback mandolin is officially known as Neapolitan (or perhaps Napolitano).
Hope this isn’t too late!
Warwick makes a case in their Rockbag line that’s especially for bowl-backs. The model # is RBPG-RBM. I know Elderly Instruments sells them for $39.
I’ve a vast collection of the old mando’s and I use that bag exclusively for the good ones 🙂
Hi
I produce a breakfast radio program for the ABC in Adelaide, and we are planning to feature the mandolin in the music we play next tuesday morning(18/10). Looking for someone who might be keen to do a radio interview via the phone on the origins and characteristics of the mandolin. if interested drop me an email to…denny.spence@abc.net .au.
Old cases are indeed found in e-bay (UK) but several things to look out for. They are not very sturdy. The handle and something the closing clasps are made of leather which is totally disintegrating due to the age of the case 1930s-1950s or earlier. You have to find a way to replace them, like the friendly shoe repair shop? Also, the width of the mandolin needs to be measured. It is easy to ask the vendor the size of the case, so that you don’t damage the instrument in a too tight case. Words of advice from someone looking for the same (1906 Luigi Embergher mandolin) whereas the shops advertise bowl back case and seems to be permanently out of stock. Good luck.