Custom Display Case

This video is to showcase our range of custom display cases, just visit our website http://www.widdowsonsltd.co.uk/custom-display-cases.html and enter your sizes for an instant quote, and secure online ordering of a display case custom made to your exact sizes.

 Rik Shaw was working as a toolmaker until 1986 when a back injury stopped him in his tracks and he also had to dispose of his own  little workshop. It is only in the last four years that he has managed to recreate a small "tool room" in an enlarged summer house and there he has been able to continue his model engineering hobby.

 The model in the photograph is based on a design by Stan Bray, a contributor to Model Engineer and was purchased from a chap on a day on which he had left his specs at home - big mistake, it was when he put his reading glasses on that he realized what a mess he had bought. Rik had to completely strip it and remake many of the components, the rest he managed to salvage by re-machining. Rik is proud to say that the refurbished model is now quite a handsome piece and is enhanced by its new acrylic display case purchased from Widdowsons Ltd. The acrylic display case was custom made to the exact size and bought from their website at www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-501.html.

The complete refurbishment took two months to complete, but was well worth it. The model is approximately 500mm high and has a 200mm diameter flywheel. With Rik's dodgy back he could just about lift it. The full sized versions of this type of vertical steam engine model were originally put to work in mills and factories where space was at a premium and horizontal engines would not fit. You can see it running under compressed air here:

Rik had previously completed another scratch built horizontal single cylinder steam engine around 1985. The original plans came from Model Engineer, he adapted them and built it to twice the plan size. Piston diameter is one inch and steam is distributed via a "D" valve. Much of this engine he finished machined using universal, surface and other types of grinding machine as he viewed its construction as an exercise in tool making rather than creating anything to scale.

 Rik made it from gauge plate and bar stock, the only bits he did not make were the nuts, bolts and washers. It is approximately 330mm long and weighs  nearly 8 kilos. It runs under compressed air as shown above.

For a guided tour of his workshop you can watch the following video, which needs to be updated as he has sold the small lathe/machining centre and replaced it with a much larger new lathe and milling machine.

Rik has been tool making of late but under the bench lies a six inch diameter brass naval shell case that he wants to use to fabricate a posh flywheel to fit on an engine which at the moment is only in the early design stage (He is thinking about it)!

Rik has also ordered two more display cases for another two models.

Skeleton Clock Display Case

Skeleton Clock Display Cover

Leslie, a very skilled 86 year old customer from Kent, loves making skeleton clocks, each one takes months of intricate work to complete, but his wife is not a big fan of dusting, so he has had some custom display covers made by us to protect them from the dust. Her visitors also find it much easier to resist the urge to poke and prod them now.
In total Leslie has made 3 of these skeleton clocks, and they all keep perfect time.

Keep up the good work Leslie

You can get a quote for a custom sized acrylic display cover for your skeleton clock from
http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-500.html, or
http://www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk/CDC-501.html if you want a base as well.

More information about the company making these display cases can be found here.
www.widdowsonsltd.co.uk

An Acrylic Display Case vs a Glass Display Case

You may be wondering “Why choose an acrylic display case over a glass one?” and “What difference does it make?” well as much as it depends on what you want from your display case, there are several clear benefits, including:

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  It is optically clearer than glass
• It is lighter than glass
• It Is less likely to smash
• It can be UV bonded or Solvent welded

Acrylic is a resin-based thermoplastic known as “polymethylmethacrylate” or PMMA. One of the most impressive characteristics of this material is that it’s one of the most optically clear materials available, even more so than glass, and it weighs about half as much as glass. Acrylic is resistant to many elements, including sunlight, rain, snow, pollutants and many chemicals. Acrylic unlike glass, will not shatter into tiny pieces when broken.

If you would like your display case to have optically clear joints, an acrylic display case is the only option because you can use UV bonding. This involves using acrylic adhesives which set when exposed to UV light.

Although UV bonding looks the most impressive, it is not the strongest method of joining acrylic. Solvent welding is a process whereby pieces of acrylic are welded together and a virtually unbreakable join is formed.

Acrylic is a very lightweight, flexible and resilient material, which makes it ideal for use for display cases. It has the added advantage of protecting the contents of the case from most UV rays, dust, ageing and many other forms of wear and tear.  When compared to glass it is a more cost efficient and hard wearing material, which is why we recommend it so highly.

Why Do People become Collectors?

Everyone collects something, the hobby of collecting includes the seeking, locating, acquiring, organizing, cataloging, displaying, storing, and maintaining of whatever items are of interest to the individual collector. Some collectors are generalists, accumulating all different types of items from all over the world. Others focus on a subtopic within their area of interest, anything from Victorian Postage Stamps to first edition Star Wars toys and many more besides.

But why? What about the human condition compels people to seek out and collect these items.

Psychologist Mark Mckinley who wrote a paper on the Psychology of Collecting states: “It does seem that growing up as “kids,” we all collected something we made into a hobby. It could have begun with baseball cards, marbles, or stamps. Then it moved on: to antique books, Longaberger baskets, state quarters, or Atmos clocks. For others it was collecting the really unusual that worked best for them. Indeed, some collectors even collect collecting guides!”

For many people collecting things allows people to define themselves and their identity, to relive their childhood and in some cases this nostalgia connects them to a happier period in their life.

There are however several reasons why people collect, Dr Mckinley divides collectors into several groups who collect for reasons including:

• Pure enjoyment (Collecting can make them happier)
• Investment (Buying with a view to profit from resale in the future)
• Preservation of the past (Acquiring objects of historic significance)
• Social inclusion (Joining communities and forming friendships)
• Prestige or fame (Acquiring rare, fascinating or unique collections that have a wider interest)
• Self identity fulfilment (Defining part of their personalities by what they collect)

Many collectors will have several of these motivations driving their passion, whether it is the happiness from adding a new find to the collection, the excitement of the hunt, the social camaraderie when sharing their collection with other collectors. Not forgetting that it is often these dedicated people we have to thank, for some of the most spectacular and historic collections of human artefacts.

Researchers cannot agree on whether people who collect things are happier and more balanced, but if you ask any collector their enthusiasm and passion for what they collect nearly always shines through and they undoubtedly see it as a positive in their life.

Collectors take the up most pride in their collections, often displaying them prominently in their houses and if they are particularly spectacular or important, lending them to the worlds greatest galleries, museums and libraries. Understanding the fulfilment and pride people gain from displaying their collections is part of the reason we produce our range of display cases, allowing a collector to showcase their collections beautifully, whilst protecting and safeguarding them from ageing or damage.

Showcasing your skills

What’s the point of winning trophies if you don’t show them off to the max? Whether they are personal trophies at home or club trophies at your club house, they need to take centre stage. But who looks after them and keeps them dust free? Who ensures they look as good as they should considering they represent you and your team’s skill and excellence?

There’s no need to fret over this conundrum any longer. At acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk we have a case to fit your trophy wherever it takes pride of place. And if your trophy’s measurements are a little out of the ordinary, don’t worry our bespoke cases will do the job instead. The other great thing about our display cases is that they protect the contents from harmful UV light and dust.

Showcasing your sports memorabilia

If you’re a little light on trophies to mark your excellence, why not showcase other sporting memorabilia you’ve collected? How about the ball that featured in the winning game? We have cases to display footballs, rugby balls, cricket balls and even basketballs. But that’s not all; boxing gloves, helmets, football boots and signed kit also look great displayed in our acrylic cases.

Showcasing a piece of sporting history

Perhaps you have an Olympic Torch marking the London 2012 Games? Well that definitely needs showing off and protecting for prosperity. Guess what, we even have a display case for that. And yes it will protect your Torch from UV light and dust too.

Something to suit

Whether you need a wall hanging case or individual cases, we will be sure to have the right one. And if we don’t we’ll make it for you. It’s as simple as that. Our display cases come in a range of sizes, modern and traditional. We also offer ones with wooden bases and ones that lock. They are made from acrylic, which is lighter and less costly than glass and certainly less likely to get broken.

Does this sound like what you’re looking for? We thought so. Take a look at our range to find your perfect display case.

Wedding Day memories for all to see

Something borrowed; something blue...it was the happiest day of your life full of treasured memories. So if like us you don’t feel the odd wedding photo on the wall or mantelpiece does it justice, why not make a proper show of it?

We bet you’ve got a box of wedding day treasures safely tucked away gathering dust. Is it in the wardrobe, the loft or the garage? Well it’s time to unearth it and showcase your memories for everyone to enjoy.

We’ve got the perfect solution, an acrylic display case. Just think you can put your wedding cake topper in one, your preserved bouquet in another, in fact you can have a dedicated case for all your wedding day bits and bobs. There’s your ‘save the date’ card and your guest book with all of those lovely comments. But of course it’s up to you what treasures from the happy occasion make the final cut.

Most memorabilia from your wedding day won’t be of an excessive or strange size and will probably fit into one of our standard Acrylic Display Cases. But should you need something bespoke, we are able to make a custom-sized case for you. Your objects of love deserve to be shown off in the best possible way.

Depending on where you want to display your wedding memories – on shelves or as wall cabinets – we will have something suitable for you in these ranges.

Caring for your display cases

Acrylic is much lighter than glass and less likely to smash. However, this doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a little care and attention. We polish our acrylic cases with an anti-static cloth before they leave our premises. This ensures they have protection from scratches. Once in your care it is best to apply an anti-static barrier product such as Mr Sheen furniture polish. Don’t worry you only need to do this about once every 2–4 weeks to deter dust from collecting. It also helps to protect against scratches, but you don’t need to do this every time you dust.

Just promise you’ll never use window or glass cleaners or any other solvent based preparations as they encourage the acrylic to crack.

Don’t worry if your case or cases do get scratched. Just rub a little metal polish such as Brasso into the crack and rub it in straight lines. This will cause the scratch to fade or disappear. Don’t forget to ‘Mr Sheen’ it afterwards for protection.

You’ll find all the details you need about payment and delivery on our website www.acrylicdisplaycases.co.uk. Happy showcasing.