Handle / bracket for Gibson 50s alligator case

[Dafgog]

I have a 50s alligator case Gibson. The handle brackets remain in place but no handle. Does anyone have a link to where I can obtain a suitable handle/ bracket. (cant upload photos for some reason)

[j45nick]

Go online and search for luggage repair parts.

[Dafgog]

 

Thanks j45nick for your usual prompt reply

[j45nick]

Most case parts are generic luggage hardware, with only the shell of the case being a proprietary component.

The chipboard cases, whether alligator pattern or smooth, generally but not always had plastic handles. I have one here somewhere that originally came with one of my 1950 J-45's, but it's buried in a pile of guitar boxes in the garage, and isn't readily accessible. 

I just looked at an old photo of a Gibson chipboard case I bought in 1966 (and no longer have), but it's hard to tell much about the handle. It looks s bit different from the modern plastic handles.

I save the chipboard cases if they are original to the guitar, but buy modern hard cases to actually store the guitar.

[Lars68]

There is also a lot of handles new, or vintage, on ebay, just search for “guitar case replacement handle”.

Lars

[zombywoof]

On 12/9/2019 at 10:02 AM, j45nick said:

Most case parts are generic luggage hardware, with only the shell of the case being a proprietary component.

The chipboard cases, whether alligator pattern or smooth, generally but not always had plastic handles. I have one here somewhere that originally came with one of my 1950 J-45's, but it's buried in a pile of guitar boxes in the garage, and isn't readily accessible. 

I just looked at an old photo of a Gibson chipboard case I bought in 1966 (and no longer have), but it's hard to tell much about the handle. It looks s bit different from the modern plastic handles.

I save the chipboard cases if they are original to the guitar, but buy modern hard cases to actually store the guitar.

 

My older Geib & Schaeffer  chipboard cases have leather sausage handles (or what remains of them).  But the alligator Gibson cases were recent enough that I do not recall ever seeing one that did not have a plastic handle.

[zombywoof]

Remember when luggage shops were pretty common.  You could bring any guitar case in and have latches and handles replaced , tweed or tolex covering repaired and so on.  They have now gone the way of tube testers in hardware stores.