Thanks. I doubt I will be putting anyone out of business. Lots of good case makers out there but not nearly enough to fit the demand.
I might as well take this space to highlight a few things we do though that I feel are benefits to owning our cases.
1. The latch. I have fought with broken latches for 20 years. Top loading cue cases are not meant to use purse latches to close them. Especially if they are carried by the handle.
So I invented the Puzzle Latch. This latch has the the retention piece sewn to the body securely. And I MEAN securely. Takes FOUR hours to build it. This piece can take all the weight of the case and not flinch. You will almost break your arm trying to get it to open by itself.
2. Rubber bottom. Not much of an invention but certainly a major benefit. Cases that slide because the bottoms have metal pieces are a pain. You have to always prop them just so and make sure they are never jostled. We still make them this way for some clients but when I can I like non-slip rubber bottoms. Set them up and leave them alone knowing that the case isn't moving.
3. Jump Handle Compartment. I created this in 1997. Since then many case makers have adopted it and some have not. But it's standard on our cases at no extra charge. And for cases with metal zippers we now include an extra sleeve to further protect the handle from the metal teeth for those that have high-end jump cues.
4. Our protection. I call it daily insurance. Each of these cases has our UltraPad protection which is the best protection a tube case can offer to your cues. The fabric we use is soft and strong, not harsh and scratchy. It's backed by several layers of foam rubber specifically engineered to hold the cue securely and snugly. Not tight, just lovingly cradled and cushioned against impact. Each case has EVA foam at the bottom to protect all the parts. Your cue touches nothing that can harm it in any way and stays put until you deliberately take it out.
5. General fit and finish. This one is a bit subjective of course. I have a fairly fanatical view on how things should be put together. My people collectively hold their breath when a case is presented to me for inspection. I feel that our fit and finish conforms to what quality leather work should be. Everyone has different opinions of course, just like cue making. But I like to use Chas Clements' opinion on fit and finish. "Build it like someone's life might depend on it, because someone's life might."
