Jay Flowers Cases

Jack Justis

Jack Justis

CASEMAKER
Silver Member
I am throwing out this question because I would really like to know the true answer.

Can anyone with personal knowledge shed light on the rumors that Jay was not the builder of the J.EF Cases but rather the distributor.

If Jay was the actual builder of the J.EF Cases then who is NH?

Flowers_logo.jpg
 
I noticed that as well. But since no "NH" cases seem to exist without J.EF Cue Cases on them then Jay Flowers is the "creator". I don't build the cases all by myself either and my toolers sign the cases that they tool.

According to Chris Tate's website, www.palmercollector.com Jay had 8 people working in a three car garage. So that says custom production to me.

Does it matter? Did Stradivarious personally build all the violins that came out of his shop?
 
JB Cases said:
Did Stradivarious personally build all the violins that came out of his
shop?
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Yes, I believe he did. Having said that he did have a son or two (and later possibly three) working with him, but it is extremely unlikely that his boys were craftsmen as none went on to make their own instruments. They were more likely to have been labour and parts-makers.

Dave
 
The Mystery Deepens

My Flower's case doesn't have any logos or stamping at all.

I believe that his 3 car garage was on Hillsborough Ave next to where the Krystal burgers is now located (where Hanley Road meets Hillsborough Ave.) and had J. FLOWERS painted across the metal roof.

I think (but I may be wrong about this) that the NH stood for Near Home or N (in) H (Hillsborough) (the county) or something like that.

Doug
(I guess I wasn't any help at all)
 
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I heard later in his career he was having mexicans build them over the border.
I've heard this from more than 1 good source.


chris G
 
bogey54311 said:
I heard later in his career he was having mexicans build them over the border.
I've heard this from more than 1 good source.


chris G
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I HAD HEARD THAT AS WELL. MAYBE FROM THE SAME SOURCES.
 
We Got Us Some Bubba's On Our Alabama Border

bogey54311 said:
I heard later in his career he was having mexicans build them over the border.
I've heard this from more than 1 good source.

chris G
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Ah, we ain't got no Mexican borders here in FLORIDA.

Doug
(many of the old players have moved or passed on, but if anyone has a phone number for T.R. McIntosh or Ray Martin or Jon Dovinski, they may get the scoop on Jay Flowers)
 
I have two Flowers cases and both have the NH stamp. I've wondered about it and thanks Jack for bringing it up.
 
I heading to Mexico tomarrow for the DAY, will see if I can find any NEW OLD STOCK, Flowers Cases For Sale.
lmaorof.gif
 
CocoboloCowboy said:
I heading to Mexico tomarrow for the DAY, will see if I can find any NEW OLD STOCK, Flowers Cases For Sale.
lmaorof.gif
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Ask around to see if anyone know a person with the initials "NH"
 
That's What I'm Known For....... My THINKING

Jack Justis said:
Oh, my.....you thinking what I'm thinking?:eek:
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Probably not...........I'm thinking about a bucket of Popeye's chicken.

Doug
(and some of that spicy rice...............and some biscuits.............and a fried pie..........and a DIET SODA)
 
Jack Justis said:
I am throwing out this question because I would really like to know the true answer.

Can anyone with personal knowledge shed light on the rumors that Jay was not the builder of the J.EF Cases but rather the distributor.

If Jay was the actual builder of the J.EF Cases then who is NH?

View attachment 81346
Click to expand...

I spoke to Jay shortly before he passed away, to get a bio on him and discuss some issues.

He came up with the logo because he thought it sounded "Hollywood" good. For example, his real initials are JMF as in "Jasper Meeks Flowers" but he didn't think that was jazzy enough, so he used JEF as in "Jay E. Flowers" . He said he built the original cases then got swamped with orders, so he hired women, and only women for some reason, to work for him. He said that at his peak he had 8 women working for him in his garage and had a backlog of hundreds of cases. I honestly don't know why he quit making cases, but there could have been "unspoken reasons" that made it impossible...

For some of his case designs, they weren't hand tooled. The basket weave patterns were made from larger die stamps and pressed. He had the dies made up and according to what he said, devised a press for the purpose. I have a few of his cases that do have detailed basket weave patterns that look like they're pressed.

I don't know what NH stood for, but in his mind, I'm sure it was something he thought was cool.

Chris
 
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TATE said:
I spoke to Jay shortly before he passed away, to get a bio on him and discuss some issues.

He came up with the logo because he thought it sounded "Hollywood" good. For example, his real initials are JMF as in "Jasper Meeks Flowers" but he didn't think that was jazzy enough, so he used JEF as in "Jay E. Flowers" . He said he built the original cases then got swamped with orders, so he hired women, and only women for some reason, to work for him. He said that at his peak he had 8 women working for him in his garage and had a backlog of hundreds of cases. I honestly don't know why he quit making cases, but there could have been "unspoken reasons" that made it impossible...

For some of his case designs, they weren't hand tooled. The basket weave patterns were made from larger die stamps and pressed. He had the dies made up and according to what he said, devised a press for the purpose. I have a few of his cases that do have detailed basket weave patterns that look like they're pressed.

I don't know what NH stood for, but in his mind, I'm sure it was something he thought was cool.

Chris
Click to expand...


GREAT POST CHRIS.:wink:
 
Thanks Chris for the real story.


Here is my story, just a opinion, nothing more.

I awalys kinda sorta thought they looked like they were made in Mexico, When I lived there when I was a kid for a few months I saw lots of leather goods-first time I saw a Jay flowers case it reminded of me of Mexico and being a kid. This is not a knock at all I like Flowers cases, never had one but sure do like them and respect Jay for what he did.
 
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