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I found a flush mount USA located spring loaded (automatically folds down) handle that you can install to push your case with its wheels. It's on eBay for just barely under $10 with shipping included. I believe you can find it on your own. It's metal and has a little plastic spool over the metal portion where you grab it with your hand.

This little fella (Willson euphonium case) rode along, too. It was in better shape than the 340 case, but was a bit ragged, especially the edges. Loose Tolex was glued down. It now has some nice new feet to replace the missing and worn ones. It’s also sporting a a nice, new, exterior satin black finish.

bloke wrote: ↑Tue Dec 31, 2024 11:44 am I found a flush mount USA located spring loaded (automatically folds down) handle that you can install to push your case with its wheels. It's on eBay for just barely under $10 with shipping included. I believe you can find it on your own. It's metal and has a little plastic spool over the metal portion where you grab it with your hand.

Thanks for that.

I actually bought and returned 2 spring loaded handles that sound very similar to what you describe. I was going to put one at each end. I decided that it was a bit of “overkill.” I figured that I can always add them if this gets more use than expected.

I'm sure you know that McMaster/Carr sells peel rivets (for those edge braces).
Their prices are lower than the Elkhorn jobber prices.

One thing that was interesting to see was that the bottom plate and the bell end plate on the 340 case are both at least 1/2” thick. Thicker than I remember seeing on these wood cases. Probably why it survived. The sides are the same 1/4” - 3/8” -ish thickness. The sides failed, but the bottom and bell end were intact and solid.

Some things were riveted with backing washers (pulled up the lining and reglued), some things were screwed where the material was more study and stout.

The USA made gww cases were all better than the Costa Rican stuff.

Because I can’t leave well enough alone, I’ve already “upgraded” a few little things that probably made no difference whatsoever. I had used the included hardware with the wheels that was just “throw away” quality, so I threw it away and used better, less “throw away” Chinese stuff from HD. Cost me less than $1.50, but made me feel better about the final product, so there it is.

Costa Rica. I wonder how the heck that happened?

Costa Rica is famous for its biodiversity, with lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and active volcanoes. But, don’t forget the cheap-@$$ trumpet cases…

B-flat tubas, hard cases, 4/4-size contrabass instruments, and rotary valves...bit-by-bit, creeping back into vogue...

I(v’e) own(ed) some gig bags, but have always had a hard case for everything I’ve owned. I’m pretty sure I could always navigate my surroundings without damaging my stuff in a bag, but I know others, while not doing so intentionally, lack the ability to NOT customize other people’s stuff.

I keep those bags in reserve for the day I’ll need them to keep playing. That day comes sooner or later for all of us…

Same here. I've got all my bags and they're all top end California bags, but they're not being used. I think I'm pretty careful, but even if we seat belt in our instruments in our vehicles when they're in bags, they can end up being damaged in some emergency even if there's not a wreck, and they can probably even slip out of the seat belts, because they're not people. When I pack my cased instruments in my vehicles, I always put the bottom bows towards the front and the bells towards the back.