Calder custom guitar cases: work in progress

We're all happy with the way these cases are shaping up. The client's choice of colours is great - its a pleasure to create pieces like this.

Calder case hinges: more fine metal engineering

We are constantly refining the designs of our cases to make them stronger, lighter or just work better. Recently we decided to use external stop hinges instead of internal leather stays to keep the lid open on our violin and guitar cases.

We designed a hinge that was light, strong and a fit with the overall look of Calder cases - they're machined out of solid aluminium and fitted with stainless steel screws. I'm delighted with the result - this is another step forward.

Calder case handles: fine engineering in steel

We just took delivery of the next generation of our stainless steel handle plates, this time with custom made screws so we get the very high level of engineering we want for Calder cases. Here's a sample of the new with one of our older handles below for comparison.

Calder custom cases in yellow

The custom yellow cases are moving along well.

The deep case in the background is special double sided version of our briefcase.

Custom Calder guitar case in the workshop

Here is work in progress on a custom Calder guitar case in elegant yellow. This case is for a very special Strat.

Hand cutting the foam interior.



Leather supremo Marie Upshire working on the exterior.

The small details: Bell & Ross inspirational screw heads

The leather and stainless steel handle is a key feature of Calder cases. In the early prototypes the screws attaching the handle to the body of the case were covered by leather but I soon decided they should be visible. Showing the screw heads was more in line with my sense that honest design makes the structural elements visible rather than hidden.

Being an obsessive owner/designer I then had to find the most perfect quality screws. I was spurred on in this quest by the exceptional elegance of the screws on Bell & Ross wristwatches.

Finally, in the last few weeks, I've found a small English engineering shop who will make screws of the quality I want. These are shots of the samples they sent me (I'll be using a 3mm cross head screw, much smaller than either of these) and a shot of a Bell & Ross in acknowledgment of the inspiration I took from them.

Calder materials for custom cases

It is a pleasure to bring together unique materials for a custom case. Here are the materials for the series of custom cases we are building at the moment.

For the Fender Strat case, corn coloured printed leather exterior with matching zip, pale yellow internal trim, deep red hand painted silk velvet linin.



For the Fender Esquire case, cognac print exterior leather, natural calf internal trim, burgundy hand painted silk velvet lining.



For the rolling suitcases and custom briefcases, corn coloured printed leather exterior, pale yellow internal trim, bright yellow moire satin lining.