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#302819 - 06/10/2007 22:54 Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags?
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Imagine something very close to the same size and shape as the current Empeg bag. But with the following differences:

- High quality textured leather - Really thick sturdy stuff.
- Empeg slides in from a clasp closure on top, instead of the current zip-around design. (Think of a binocular bag, and you've got the basic idea.)
- A bit more room in the accessory pocket.
- Memory-foam padding. (Padding can be designed to fit Mk1 or Mk2.)
- Optional shoulder strap, or just a handle.
- Optional color choice: Brown or Black. (Or just about any color you like for a bit extra.)

My girlfriend makes high quality leather purses and other similar items. We're currently building me an empeg bag with those specs. She's cutting the leather for the prototype now.

Based on materials and time, we'd probably have to charge about $150 US, but they would be AWESOME. And they'd last longer than the nylon bags. (I'm on my second nylon bag at the moment.)

Anyone be interested in one?

Trying to gauge how many she might be able to sell.

Pictures of the prototype to come when it's done...
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Tony Fabris

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#302820 - 07/10/2007 01:08 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
caseyse
member

Registered: 07/10/2000
Posts: 112
Loc: CA, USA
They sound very nice. I would be interested, if available.

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#302821 - 07/10/2007 01:14 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: caseyse]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Excellent!

The work on the bag continues, the initial results are quite promising. Quite luxurious, in fact.

Pictures soon.
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Tony Fabris

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#302822 - 07/10/2007 06:40 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
spider
member

Registered: 31/12/2001
Posts: 121
"its not a purse, its European!"

sorry, I couldn't resist!

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#302823 - 07/10/2007 10:53 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Definitely interested. Can she color match the leather to the car interior?

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#302824 - 07/10/2007 17:43 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: julf]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Sure! Within reason, of course... Hard to color match *exactly* without having the real car physically present, plus there are limits to the available leather colors, but we can certainly try. Probably will cost a bit extra, though, because it means another trip to the leather supplier. (We got a large quantity of brown and black, assuming they'd be the primary choices.) If you're lucky, it might be something she already has on-hand and she can just do it with existing materials, then it wouldn't be extra.

What color are we talking about? Have you got photos?
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Tony Fabris

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#302825 - 08/10/2007 14:27 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
LittleBlueThing
addict

Registered: 11/01/2002
Posts: 612
Loc: Reading, UK
Sounds interesting....

I'm thinking light grey to match the car.

Pics are good - especially whilst she's working on it
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#302826 - 08/10/2007 15:46 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
julf
veteran

Registered: 01/10/2001
Posts: 1307
Loc: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Quote:
What color are we talking about? Have you got photos?

In my case, a reddish brown ("burgundy"). I'm sure there are pics of the Morgan somewhere...

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#302827 - 08/10/2007 19:17 Tuscans [Re: LittleBlueThing]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5914
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
Quote:

I'm thinking light grey to match the car.



...which reminds me, my 1000 mile drive in the Tuscan was stunning, so now the search is on to find a 2005/2006 Tuscan 2 Convertible in an inoffensive colour scheme
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#302828 - 08/10/2007 20:22 Re: Tuscans [Re: andy]
frog51
pooh-bah

Registered: 09/08/2000
Posts: 2091
Loc: Edinburgh, Scotland
Does that mean one colour, or the usual 3-colour mix option?

:-)
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MkIIa, blue lit buttons, memory upgrade, 1Tb in Subaru Forester STi
MkII, 240Gb in Mark Lord dock
MkII, 80Gb SSD in dock

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#302829 - 08/10/2007 21:42 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: julf]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Dark red and light gray leather may both be possible. We will have to check with the leather supplier once we've made some bags with our existing stock of brown and black.

Ran into a technical issue with the construction of the prototype last night, we're working on making it better. More reports as things happen.
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Tony Fabris

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#302830 - 08/10/2007 22:04 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
schofiel
carpal tunnel

Registered: 25/06/1999
Posts: 2993
Loc: Wareham, Dorset, UK
Yup, think I'd be up for one!
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One of the few remaining Mk1 owners... #00015

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#302831 - 09/10/2007 02:58 Re: Tuscans [Re: frog51]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5914
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
Quote:
Does that mean one colour, or the usual 3-colour mix option?



I can't imagine finding any of the three colour mixes acceptable. However the car we hired was a two colour mix, with two different dark greens. That actually worked quite well.

There also seem to be far to many cars with very light interior colours, ideally I want an almost totally black interior.

Add to that the fact that there are only 80 or so Tuscan 2 Convertibles with the right spec (i.e. not an "S" and with the later "curvy" dash") and it looks like it will be a long search.
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#302832 - 09/10/2007 03:21 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: schofiel]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Awesome, Rob.

I'm excited about this project. Hope that doesn't jinx it!
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Tony Fabris

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#302833 - 09/10/2007 03:40 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
andy
carpal tunnel

Registered: 10/06/1999
Posts: 5914
Loc: Wivenhoe, Essex, UK
This is great news, I'll probably be interested in one or two.
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#302834 - 16/10/2007 00:44 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Quote:
(Or just about any color you like for a bit extra.)

Can we do it Maybach style where I have my private jet flown to you for leather matching the seats, only to fly it off moments later? Except, I have no private jet.

Realistically, what will the interior be? Leather also? Or something more durable against those harsh 1mm steel edges? Or maybe crush red velvet!
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110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

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#302835 - 16/10/2007 16:51 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: FireFox31]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Our goal is to have the interior be either a durable suede lining on some surfaces, and on other surfaces it will be the inner surface of the leather (the soft fuzzy side of the leather). We're still poking at the design and trying prototypes to come up with something that works the best.

Durability is an important goal for us as we design this, it's one of our primary concerns.

Warm up that jet.
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Tony Fabris

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#302836 - 16/10/2007 20:19 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
Taym
carpal tunnel

Registered: 18/06/2001
Posts: 2504
Loc: Roma, Italy
Ok, I'd be interested too No need to say, I can't wait to see pics of some prototype

Thaks to you both, Tony.
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MK2a #040103216 * 100Gb *All/Colors* Radio * 3.0a11 * Hijack = taympeg

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#302837 - 17/10/2007 19:21 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: Taym]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Excellent. We are still working on getting a good prototype. Found a good solution to one construction issue recently. More to come.
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Tony Fabris

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#302838 - 19/10/2007 12:10 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
rob
carpal tunnel

Registered: 21/05/1999
Posts: 5335
Loc: Cambridge UK
Without meaning to hijack the thread, I wonder what happened to the one and only leather carry case we made... perhaps Hugo has it?

We didn't go into production due to the "European Man Bag" aspect.

Rob

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#302839 - 19/10/2007 13:13 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: rob]
Schido
enthusiast

Registered: 29/03/2005
Posts: 364
Loc: Probably lost somewhere in Wal...
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Empeg Mk1 #00177, 2.00 final, hijack 4.76

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#302840 - 03/11/2007 19:14 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Update: Second prototype made. Still awesome, but still not quite ready for photos yet. Final details getting worked out. More to come, watch this space.
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Tony Fabris

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#302841 - 04/11/2007 17:54 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
FireFox31
pooh-bah

Registered: 19/09/2002
Posts: 2494
Loc: East Coast, USA
Quote:
soft fuzzy side

Mmm, soft... fuzzy... side.

Would static be a concern? Honestly, is static EVER a concern? I work on my PC on my carpeted bedroom floor wearing socks and it's never bothered me.
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FireFox31
110gig MKIIa (30+80), Eutronix lights, 32 meg stacked RAM, Filener orange gel lens, Greenlights Lit Buttons green set

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#302842 - 04/11/2007 18:49 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: FireFox31]
tman
carpal tunnel

Registered: 24/12/2001
Posts: 5528
Quote:
Honestly, is static EVER a concern? I work on my PC on my carpeted bedroom floor wearing socks and it's never bothered me.

Yes. You might not kill it straight away but you will still be damaging it.

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#302843 - 04/11/2007 23:58 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: FireFox31]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Static wouldn't be a concern for a leather bag for the empeg I dont think.
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Tony Fabris

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#302844 - 05/11/2007 07:42 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
Charles Beer
new poster

Registered: 05/11/2007
Posts: 37
longtime lurker here but i'd defintely be interested in 2.

I been using my empeg just in my office but now I'm getting ready to install my spare unit in a car finally. For the 1st time in 4 yrs of ownership I'll actually be using the Riocar ... in a car..

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#309853 - 06/05/2008 16:55 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Update: Final (third) prototype completed, looks great.

I have been living with the second prototype for a few months and it's working excellent. There were some specific things we discovered about the long-term live test with the second prototype that we've incorporated into the final design. I'm very happy with the final design. It fits Mk1 and Mk2 players equally, the player is nice and snug inside the padded case, yet it's fairly easy to get in and out of the case with one hand once you get the hang of it.

We're working on getting pictures up, and her web site will be linked from this thread as soon as she's ready to start taking orders.

We're planning on offering a few options for the bag. The clasp hardware can be either black or chrome, and there will be optional d-rings on the side for a detachable shoulder strap. The color options will most likely be as I described above: Brown or black for the base price, and and extra (not sure how much extra yet) if you want a custom leather color.

For those who are thinking of getting a custom leather color to match their upholstery, please keep in mind that the place it's going to be most visible is when you're *carrying* it. So matching the car's upholstery, while clever, might not be what you truly want.

One thing: Remember that she's going to be making these things as you order them, so there will be a lag time between the placement of the order and the time it gets shipped. But her work is pretty awesome and it's worth the wait.
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Tony Fabris

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#309854 - 06/05/2008 17:00 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA

Oh, also, what should we call it?

Her ideas are:
Embag
Ec^2 or Emc^2 (for Empeg carrying case)
or just call it what it is: Empeg Carrying Case?

I'm partial to embag, myself...
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Tony Fabris

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#309855 - 06/05/2008 17:23 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: tfabris]
JBjorgen
carpal tunnel

Registered: 19/01/2002
Posts: 3582
Loc: Columbus, OH
We could call it the Fabris Empeg CArrying Luggage, or FECAL for short. smile
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#309857 - 06/05/2008 17:42 Re: Feeler: High quality leather empeg bags? [Re: JBjorgen]
tfabris
carpal tunnel

Registered: 20/12/1999
Posts: 31563
Loc: Seattle, WA
Hm. Susan's leather-bag company is Bansai8 Creations (laugh while you can monkey boy), and her last name is Lanphere, so it could be...

LECH (Lanphere Empeg Carrying Hardware)
BEST (Bansai Empeg Support Transporter)
BET (Bansai Empeg Transport)

smile
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Tony Fabris

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