I recently purchased a used Canada Calton case that has held up really well for its age except for the plush lining, which is now rapidly disintegrating. The little fibers get all over the place when I take the banjo out and I'm mildly concerned about breathing the stuff in.
I called Calton about it and they want $850 to replace the lining, which I find absurd.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!
Hi Ellery
Sorry (and a little surprised) to read of your problem with the Calton case lining. I have a Calton case I bought directly from Keith Calton in 1975, and the lining is as good as new. Maybe different specifications/standards were applied when he sold the business and cases were manufactured in Canada, or maybe your case has had a hard life.
Have you considered re-lining it yourself? It's not a difficult task, especially as you have the existing lining from which to cut a pattern. I did this for my first ever decent banjo. I bought it from the Clifford Essex shop in London, and the case they supplied was structurally sound but the lining was shot. I bought some crushed velvet material, upholstery foam for the padding, and adhesive to hold it in place. As the lining is constructed from several 'panels', it's really very easy to do. I agree that the $850 Calton are asking is laughable.
There is a guy on Marketplace Toronto Canada, says he will manufacture cases to spec, any size any material. Thought about asking him to duplicate a Calton type case, His name Armin RJ
quote:
Originally posted by ElleryI recently purchased a used Canada Calton case that has held up really well for its age except for the plush lining, which is now rapidly disintegrating. The little fibers get all over the place when I take the banjo out and I'm mildly concerned about breathing the stuff in.
I called Calton about it and they want $850 to replace the lining, which I find absurd.
Any suggestions would be much appreciated. Thanks!
The current owner of the rights to the Calton name is likely different from the manufacturer that made yours. You might expect a manufacturer to "stand behind" a product even if you are not the original purchaser, but I bet it's a different manufacturer. There were quality issues with a prior manufacturer and even litigation over the rights. There are good eras (first and most recent) and a not-so-valued era of Calton cases. The new ones I have seen are great.
That said, I would call upholsterers in your area. Many work from home and are very reasonable. It won't be cheap. The pieces are relatively small and there are lots of attachment points and hand work in lining a case. Just go over materials carefully and research to make sure they do not interact badly with whatever the finish is on your banjo.
Thanks for the tips, folks. I appreciate it
Cat upholstery shop
