My brief semi conversation about Fellini and Ann Gore Cases with the one and only Ann Gore…
Joe Van: So, you started with Bob at Fellini?
Ann Gore: Bob and I started Fellini and then I broke off and my company name was Manx but for some reason I put Ann Gore designer in the labels I did not do any tooling with Manx. Bob got the idea after seeing a case by Ginacue.
J.V.: Did you AG mark all the Fellini’s you tooled?
A.G.: Maybe not the first one or two but after that I always sign my initials. The first tooled Fellini was the double interlock geometric pattern.
J.V.: So, you did all the tooling, how did it start?
A.G.: Yes, I can remember being at Tandy Leather and saying to Bob hey let's get some cowhide and I'll try to Tool something. My favorite cases were ones that I made to coordinate with a cue makers cue.
J.V.: Did you outsource the felt liners?
A.G.: I had a lady who was probably in her 80s that would make them for us her name was Lottie Cobb.
J.V.: How many people worked at Fellini?
A.G.: 3, Bob, Stephen Bass and I. Steven made the cases, prepared the plastic, put in the lining, and put the latch on after I finished the leather work. I lost touch with Stephen, but Bob and I remained friends till the end.
J.V: How long did you continue Manx cases and about how many did you make?
A.G.: About 1 ½ to two years and about 50-75 cases.
J.V.: Did you get the extruded tubes from the same company as Bob?
A.G.: No, it was a different company and at the end I sold my tubing to someone in Florida.
J.V.: Could you tell me about the design in the center of this case? I know you guys did it first, but it became synonymous with Centennial cases. (Starburst pattern)
A.G.: I think I was inspired by Southwest art when I just on a whim did the sunburst.
J.V.: Did you have specific names for your tooling patterns?
A.G.: Yeah, my first design we always called it the interlocking design I think we called the ones with the tooling just at the ends that they were banded and then of course the sunburst. The double interlock took a lot of concentration 1 mishap and the case was screwed leather you cannot erase.
Ref the Janett Butterfly Case:
J.V.: Not my cup of tea per se but the prettiest Fellini I think I have ever seen from a decorative point of view.
A.G.: Not my cup of tea either but she wanted a really feminine case, and this was kind of out of my comfort zone, but I guess it turned out okay. This was one of a kind, or maybe two…
Ref. pictures provided by Ann Gore.
J.V.: Wow they are some nice cases. I like Allen Hopkins case.
A.G.: Yes, that was a case made to match his cue.
Joe Van: So, you started with Bob at Fellini?
Ann Gore: Bob and I started Fellini and then I broke off and my company name was Manx but for some reason I put Ann Gore designer in the labels I did not do any tooling with Manx. Bob got the idea after seeing a case by Ginacue.
J.V.: Did you AG mark all the Fellini’s you tooled?
A.G.: Maybe not the first one or two but after that I always sign my initials. The first tooled Fellini was the double interlock geometric pattern.
J.V.: So, you did all the tooling, how did it start?
A.G.: Yes, I can remember being at Tandy Leather and saying to Bob hey let's get some cowhide and I'll try to Tool something. My favorite cases were ones that I made to coordinate with a cue makers cue.
J.V.: Did you outsource the felt liners?
A.G.: I had a lady who was probably in her 80s that would make them for us her name was Lottie Cobb.
J.V.: How many people worked at Fellini?
A.G.: 3, Bob, Stephen Bass and I. Steven made the cases, prepared the plastic, put in the lining, and put the latch on after I finished the leather work. I lost touch with Stephen, but Bob and I remained friends till the end.
J.V: How long did you continue Manx cases and about how many did you make?
A.G.: About 1 ½ to two years and about 50-75 cases.
J.V.: Did you get the extruded tubes from the same company as Bob?
A.G.: No, it was a different company and at the end I sold my tubing to someone in Florida.
J.V.: Could you tell me about the design in the center of this case? I know you guys did it first, but it became synonymous with Centennial cases. (Starburst pattern)
A.G.: I think I was inspired by Southwest art when I just on a whim did the sunburst.
J.V.: Did you have specific names for your tooling patterns?
A.G.: Yeah, my first design we always called it the interlocking design I think we called the ones with the tooling just at the ends that they were banded and then of course the sunburst. The double interlock took a lot of concentration 1 mishap and the case was screwed leather you cannot erase.
Ref the Janett Butterfly Case:
J.V.: Not my cup of tea per se but the prettiest Fellini I think I have ever seen from a decorative point of view.
A.G.: Not my cup of tea either but she wanted a really feminine case, and this was kind of out of my comfort zone, but I guess it turned out okay. This was one of a kind, or maybe two…
Ref. pictures provided by Ann Gore.
J.V.: Wow they are some nice cases. I like Allen Hopkins case.
A.G.: Yes, that was a case made to match his cue.
