Late one evening a couple of neer-do-well musicians got through an evening of fun, music, and frolication.
One of these musicians is a respected gold and silversmith who has won meaningful awards at art festivals throughout the nation. The other, born a hundred years to late, has pursued the profession of leather smithing for the past 43 years.
The night was over and the slide guitars were being put to rest. One of the musicians possessed an artifact from an early age; a beautiful slide that was created after the turn of the century. The both commented on its style, shape and grace. It was perfectly weighted, made of 80% copper, and there was not a right angle to be found anywhere on the object to which they had placed their discerning eyes. It had a perfect fit and was easy to grip. It was ergonomically sculpted for the serious lap slide player.
Having spent their lives as artisans and craftsman, the two musicians realized they had their abilities to draw upon. They pondered the possibility of recreating this artifact, and within a few days, were in pursuit of replicating the rarest lap-style slides from a bygone era. It was a slide that was used by Hawaiian guitarists, southern blues, and eventually country and western, and swing.
Being the rarest of the lap-style slides, the two musicians were dead set on replicating it. With a devil-may-care attitude, they set about their new venture. Both musicians, not new to marketing and sales, determined that this lap-style slide had not been reproduced because there was so little profit to be made! Once again, the devil may care, but they didn’t. They were going to recreate the best lap-style slide ever!
The Jeweler, Rick Elkin of Elkin Jewlers, had the casting and foundry connections. The Leathersmith, Bill Keitel of the Buffalo Billfold Company, had the leather working tools and skills. They discussed metallurgy and weight and both agreed that an exact reproduction was their goal for the slide, and the case would be replicated with utmost attention to detail. Studying the original case they concluded the leather was corrected grain/embossed horse or cowhide. Since horse hide is not readily available, they elected to use the exact same grain correction and use a tanned American buffalo leather. This leather is perhaps the most expensive leather currently tanned in the United States. Attention to detail would be their greatest concern.
After much work, the lap-style slide and case have now been crafted with great care and it is these two musicians hope that the slide players of the world will appreciate this artifact and that it will be used with consideration and respect of that bygone era.
Play good music and the world will be a better place.
We are exceedingly grateful for your trust in our endeavor.
Your friends at Palm Tree Slide Company,
Bill and Rick
