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New case materials, old metal instruments

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2018-07-11 00:06

While I've "sort of" asked these questions in the past (indirectly)...I'm still searching for opinions, and figured it would be best to directly ask these questions:

1. I have several old (1890s-1910s) metal clarinets. Some which are collector's items, some which are run-of-the-mill. I've always kept these instruments in their "original" cases, or bound them in material which was native to the era (cotton batting, leather scabbards, etc.) Would modern cases/glues/adhesives/foam/etc. harm the plating on these older instruments? (Some are nickle plated, some are silver plated, some are gold plated.) My fear is that chemicals used in the manufacture of modern velvet, felt, glue, etc. might react to the plating somehow.

2. For years, I have toyed with the idea of creating custom cases for a few of these instruments. I've always been a little held up by not knowing the answer to my first question, but also...would it be advisable, or inadvisable to start with a block of wood, and carve out exact (slightly oversized to allow for padding) impressions of the clarinets (at least for the non-lid side)? Is it better to leave air pockets in the case to create a skeletal frame to allow for "crush zones" in the event the case meets unexpected damage, or would a solid design add more strength and better protection? Some of these clarinets are double-walled, and thus fairly susceptible to damage from dents/etc.

3. Would hardening leather (by "boiling" - actually not boiling, but at somewhere in the neighborhood of 190 degree Fahrenheit) be a worthwhile endeavor? For use either as a case's outer covering, or for use as a more rigid scabbard? Would the boiling process (if recommended) be better in simple water...or wax?

I understand these questions don't necessarily have a single "correct" answer, and might be based as much on personal experience/opinion as on fact, but I'd sure appreciate hearing of any such experiences, thoughts, facts, or opinions the rest of you might offer.

Thanks!
Fuzzy

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