Feedback for a new cue case maker

[onepocketchump]

John,
Your comments are very interesting although I don't particularly agree with you on some of them. Also, since beauty is in the eye of the beholder, please tell me which cases you sell so I can get a glimpse of your perspective.

Thanks,
Jim Murnak

For 14 years I owned Instroke Cue Cases. The first three years I only made absolute one-of-kind cases, no duplicates. Each and every case was either a creation of my mind or a collaboration of the customer's desire and my interpretation of that desire. Then I moved into mass production and made arguably the best mass produced cue cases on the market. Today, I no longer own Instroke but the cases are better than ever before and still regarded by many as the best overall cases in the industry.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I am one who tries to make all the elements fit together. The case design that I personally hated most which ended up being the most popular is the scalloped western style design, the Instroke "cowboy" model. Jerry Franklin once told me that style looked as if someone tacked the wrong pockets on it. I agreed with him, yet never changed it because of commercial sales.

If I were in your shoes right now I would make sure that my elements flowed together into my own style. In my opinion your cases at this moment look as if you are searching for a style and you are borrowing elements from others. No big deal. My first cases were nothing to write home about and I am just as proud of them as anything I have ever done. You are obviously quite talented and I envy your creative use of zippers. I was a zipper man myself, that is I liked to use lots of zippers like you are doing now.

Anyway, you'll find your gear. I learned a lot over the years about how to blend style with practicality. One thing about Whitten and Justis is that they definitely have their "look" and their style. I am not suggesting that you homogenize your look. I am suggesting that you keep doing what you are doing and you will eventually find what works for you and the customers. My comments on looks are 100% based on my personal preferences.


John

 

[deadstroke32]

Yes, I can do silver, and I would look into any other type.

Hay jim i saw the case u made for tony .nice case ..keep up the good work ..
Ps u r from Nyc right i saw someone else with the some case at amsterdam billiards..2weeks ago..

 

[jimM]

For 14 years I owned Instroke Cue Cases. The first three years I only made absolute one-of-kind cases, no duplicates. Each and every case was either a creation of my mind or a collaboration of the customer's desire and my interpretation of that desire. Then I moved into mass production and made arguably the best mass produced cue cases on the market. Today, I no longer own Instroke but the cases are better than ever before and still regarded by many as the best overall cases in the industry.

Beauty is definitely in the eye of the beholder. I am one who tries to make all the elements fit together. The case design that I personally hated most which ended up being the most popular is the scalloped western style design, the Instroke "cowboy" model. Jerry Franklin once told me that style looked as if someone tacked the wrong pockets on it. I agreed with him, yet never changed it because of commercial sales.

If I were in your shoes right now I would make sure that my elements flowed together into my own style. In my opinion your cases at this moment look as if you are searching for a style and you are borrowing elements from others. No big deal. My first cases were nothing to write home about and I am just as proud of them as anything I have ever done. You are obviously quite talented and I envy your creative use of zippers. I was a zipper man myself, that is I liked to use lots of zippers like you are doing now.

Anyway, you'll find your gear. I learned a lot over the years about how to blend style with practicality. One thing about Whitten and Justis is that they definitely have their "look" and their style. I am not suggesting that you homogenize your look. I am suggesting that you keep doing what you are doing and you will eventually find what works for you and the customers. My comments on looks are 100% based on my personal preferences.


John

Thanks John,
You have hit it very close. I obviously have used other styles in my cases, but one of the reasons was so I am able to pull down the price. In most instances, the work and construction of the general case on the market is somewhat simple and inexpensive to do, and I do understand that simplicity is an art in itself.
My most expensive cases are a product of the most difficult work I can do. Many people look at leather work and see leather and not the work. Others don't even know what real leather looks like. So it is somewhat frustrating, but as you understand, one usually covers what is there, and in my case, I try to improve on it. My point is that I am moving toward my own look and designs but along the way I hope I am making cases that are more beautiful, stronger and actually lighter than the usual case. I am generally conservative in my leather work but have been working on, as a few have suggested, a pocket with many compartments that would make finding things under pressure much easier. There are so many ways to go that I can't find the time to try everything I want to do.
I respect people who are capable of finding that one product that everyone likes, as you did with Instroke. Although I will look for it, I am happy to make what I think are beautiful cases for those who will appreciate what I put into them. (You must realize that only a few people responding to this post have actually seen them in person.) So, while thanking you for taking the time to write anything, I really appreciate your willingness to help and encourage.
Thank You,
Jim Murnak

 

[jimM]

Hay jim i saw the case u made for tony .nice case ..keep up the good work ..
Ps u r from Nyc right i saw someone else with the some case at amsterdam billiards..2weeks ago..

Yes, I live in New York.