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Hobby makes 'case' for business venture
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| Jeff McMurray custom makes his patent-pending guitar display cases at his home. Photo by NORMA MARTINEZ |
By NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
A hobby has turned into a possible business for a local resident who is awaiting word about a patent for his own creation, a display case for guitars based on the look of an amplifier.
Jeff McMurray, who has been a resident of Rockport for a year, has been working on the cases for a few years.
He moved from Loveland, CO last June, where he had been living since 1974.
He was born and reared in Iowa and joined the Navy in 1979. He served during the Iranian hostage conflict, and earned a medal for his service.
When he got out of the Navy in 1985, he moved to Colorado. He drove a truck for several years, but soon tired of it. In 1991, he became a general contractor and began his own business.
It was his side hobby, however, which led him to his current status of waiting for a patent.
He would buy, restore and sell amplifiers and most recently began selling them on eBay.
He bought a Marshall amplifier, which is a top of the line model, cleaned it up, restored it and listed it on eBay. He got a buyer whose name is Cliff Williams.
When arrangements for payment were being made, Jeff wrote and asked, "Are you the Cliff Williams of AC/DC?" The reply came back, "Yes, since 1977."
Jeff was thrilled. Not only was his restored amp being purchased, but by the bass player from his favorite rock band. The purchase took place in November, and Jeff knew Williams and the band were being inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in January.
He then custom-made a case for Williams' guitar, featuring small plaques with Williams' name, etc.
Jeff called and asked if Williams was going to be home the next day. When he said yes, Jeff sent the case by overnight delivery. Williams' reaction was more than Jeff expected.
"He freaked out," Jeff said. He put the case in his AC/DC collection room and encased his guitar in it. He also sent Jeff a photo of himself standing next to the case in the room.
Jeff then sent Williams a tweed case for his 1958 Fender P. bass which is in his retreat house in North Carolina. Williams wrote back telling Jeff, "This thing is killer." He also said next time he's on tour in Texas, Jeff's invited to the concert.
Jeff said Williams is a really down-to-earth, family person.
Jeff's first case was constructed based on his idea of creating one which "looks like an amplifier" with the same characteristics. Hhe also wanted something which "looks cool."
He explained, when a band is on stage and they place their guitars on stage, they stand them in front of an amplifier and he likes the way they look.
Based on his idea, Jeff built four or five prototypes, designed with a door without hinges. He listed them on eBay and also and sent their description to different agencies which might be interested.
He received feedback from a representative of RCA records, and sold one to Randy Owen of the band Alabama.
Jeff also applied for a patent for his display cases, although he does not have an official name for them at this time. He was leery about putting them out in the public before his patent application, but now that it is in the pending stages, he has become more aggressive, especially in the last three or four months.
Emails he has received call the cases, "The coolest things I've ever seen."
Jeff explained his display case is versatile, comes in different colors, and is built extremely well. It takes a lot of time to custom-build each one.
He is hoping his patent will be issued by January of next year, after which he will be able to work with a company for mass manufacturing.
He is currently working with Music Link to whom he sent one case. Music Link is the musician's friend's catalog. They are seeking a company in China to mass produce them. Music Link is the largest music retailer in the country.
Jeff said initial indications are they would be able to sell 400 per month. He will sign a royalty agreement and retain the right to manufacture custom cases, while the company will mass produce them.
Each case weighs about 40 pounds, is made from 3/4-inch plywood and features a Plexiglass door.
He is excited about the prospect of having his product patented. While Jeff is waiting to see how things go with the patent/mass production end of things, he will continue to sell his cases on Ebay and through his website www.showcasedeluxe.com. He may even set up a booth at Oysterfest in March, he said.
Jeff McMurray, who has been a resident of Rockport for a year, has been working on the cases for a few years.
He moved from Loveland, CO last June, where he had been living since 1974.
He was born and reared in Iowa and joined the Navy in 1979. He served during the Iranian hostage conflict, and earned a medal for his service.
When he got out of the Navy in 1985, he moved to Colorado. He drove a truck for several years, but soon tired of it. In 1991, he became a general contractor and began his own business.
It was his side hobby, however, which led him to his current status of waiting for a patent.
He would buy, restore and sell amplifiers and most recently began selling them on eBay.
He bought a Marshall amplifier, which is a top of the line model, cleaned it up, restored it and listed it on eBay. He got a buyer whose name is Cliff Williams.
When arrangements for payment were being made, Jeff wrote and asked, "Are you the Cliff Williams of AC/DC?" The reply came back, "Yes, since 1977."
Jeff was thrilled. Not only was his restored amp being purchased, but by the bass player from his favorite rock band. The purchase took place in November, and Jeff knew Williams and the band were being inducted into the rock and roll hall of fame in January.
He then custom-made a case for Williams' guitar, featuring small plaques with Williams' name, etc.
Jeff called and asked if Williams was going to be home the next day. When he said yes, Jeff sent the case by overnight delivery. Williams' reaction was more than Jeff expected.
"He freaked out," Jeff said. He put the case in his AC/DC collection room and encased his guitar in it. He also sent Jeff a photo of himself standing next to the case in the room.
Jeff then sent Williams a tweed case for his 1958 Fender P. bass which is in his retreat house in North Carolina. Williams wrote back telling Jeff, "This thing is killer." He also said next time he's on tour in Texas, Jeff's invited to the concert.
Jeff said Williams is a really down-to-earth, family person.
Jeff's first case was constructed based on his idea of creating one which "looks like an amplifier" with the same characteristics. Hhe also wanted something which "looks cool."
He explained, when a band is on stage and they place their guitars on stage, they stand them in front of an amplifier and he likes the way they look.
Based on his idea, Jeff built four or five prototypes, designed with a door without hinges. He listed them on eBay and also and sent their description to different agencies which might be interested.
He received feedback from a representative of RCA records, and sold one to Randy Owen of the band Alabama.
Jeff also applied for a patent for his display cases, although he does not have an official name for them at this time. He was leery about putting them out in the public before his patent application, but now that it is in the pending stages, he has become more aggressive, especially in the last three or four months.
Emails he has received call the cases, "The coolest things I've ever seen."
Jeff explained his display case is versatile, comes in different colors, and is built extremely well. It takes a lot of time to custom-build each one.
He is hoping his patent will be issued by January of next year, after which he will be able to work with a company for mass manufacturing.
He is currently working with Music Link to whom he sent one case. Music Link is the musician's friend's catalog. They are seeking a company in China to mass produce them. Music Link is the largest music retailer in the country.
Jeff said initial indications are they would be able to sell 400 per month. He will sign a royalty agreement and retain the right to manufacture custom cases, while the company will mass produce them.
Each case weighs about 40 pounds, is made from 3/4-inch plywood and features a Plexiglass door.
He is excited about the prospect of having his product patented. While Jeff is waiting to see how things go with the patent/mass production end of things, he will continue to sell his cases on Ebay and through his website www.showcasedeluxe.com. He may even set up a booth at Oysterfest in March, he said.
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ZAGDA wrote on Feb 14, 2009 3:53 PM:
Instead of presenting this to the scientific world in a peer reviewed journal, these guys publish it in this book in an attempt to sway public opinion. I could go on as many of the statements in this article are misleading, or blatantly ludicrous. Suffice it to say, it looks to me like this book is much more about influencing public opinion than any scientific review of whether human activity is causing climate change.
It is sad some people will believe this as fact. "