BBC announcement about Cronkhite Bags

[Rick Denney]

I have a Reunion Blues bag from probably the early 80's, and it has no need of rebuilding. It was originally for a Miraphone Bb tuba but it fits my B&S F tuba just fine and I still use it. Of course, it was made by Glen Cronkhite.

I also have several Cronkhite bats for other tubas, but the tuba I would most like to have a Cronkhite bag to fit is a Hirsbrunner HB193, which is 44 inches tall. Glen doesn't make a bag for that tuba. I ended up having to use a Protec bag.

The Protec bag is not as good. It doesn't hold its shape as well, and the foam is lighter. The shell isn't as heavy, and the zipper isn't as good. But it has good pockets, and it was less expensive. I wouldn't have minded spending more for a Cronkhite bag, though.

Rick "who has suffered with enough top-loaders to just say no" Denney

[Three Valves]

Regarding materials, their are good reasons for the lighter materials on RB Asia cases. One is that the cost is likely lower. The other is one I find humorous. When Glenn set up the old RB shop in the garment district of San Francisco, they needed new employees and put the word out. At the time, most garment industry workers in San Francisco tended to be petite Asian women, who of course had correspondingly petite hands. With the thick leather and foam RB used, most of the women found the heavy duty sewing work too difficult and they immediately quit. Glenn found success hiring burly Mexican guys who otherwise might be sewing leather boots and saddles. To this day, those fellows (Estrella Sewing Shop) still sew his cases.

My thoughts were that any auto upholstery worker that dabbled in Banda would be a good candidate to take over!!

[Radar]

...so will both Reunion Blues and Chronkite end up being Chinese...??

Reunion Blues has been Chinese-made since the early 2000's. Cronkhite's potential buyer is 100% US-manufacturing.

-F

Having Cronkhite's cases made here in the US would be a great thing. I hope it happens we could use some more things made in the US again.

[deholder]

I just called Baltimore and they said I could still order one. So I 'think' they are still making them for now. Other places just list certain models as 'Sold Out'.

[Ferguson]

Glenn has closed his shop. There are still a number of cases in the queue being finished, likely some are for BBC too, but Glenn isn't cutting any more cases for new orders.

-F

[deholder]

Who will fill the void?!?

[Ferguson]

Who will fill the void?!?

Horn Guys is adding Miraphone tuba gig bags, Gard trumpet cases, and Bags of Spain horn and trombone cases to keep a nice selection of options around. I think that's the best one can do at the moment.
-F