In the early days of The H. N. White Company, all cases were purchased from a independent vendor. By 1910, the company had started to produce some of its own cases. These cases were easy to recognize by their metal covers on all eight corners and featured the owner's name on the front. Over the next ten years, the case department expanded to cover all H. N. White instruments. The cases (1910-1920's) were built to the highest quality and featured three ply veneer, nickel trim and silk plush lining. Almost all early King cases were made to custom fit the instrument of choice and were often designed and built right around the instrument! King cases became known for their durability and choice of colors on the inside. The H. N. White Company did also make cases for other company's instruments.

Early in the 1920's, Henderson White was just steping out the front door of his factory for lunch and was approach by a young man looking for a job in the factory. Impressed by this young mans boldness and resolve, Mr. White said, "come back after lunch and I will find something for you to do". Later, as Mr. White walked up to the factory, the young man was waiting in the door. Mr. White asked, "what is your name?" "Ernie Long, sir." Once inside, Henderson and Ernie walked to F. A. Reynolds office, "Foster, find this guy a job". A few months later, Mr. White walked into his office first thing in the morning to put his coat up, and he noticed a little figure carved out of wood on his desk. Mr. White picked up the figure and inspected it, he was impressed by the attention to detail and the overall quility, and on the bottom it read "E. D. Long". Later that day while talking to Mr. Reynolds, Henderson asked "how is Ernie doing in the 'punch out' room?" "Not as well as I had hoped" said Mr. Reynolds. Mr. White then said "send him to the case department and see how he does there." From the position of "press machine operator" Mr. Ernie Long went on to head the case department and the Sting Department, and spent the next 45 years at The H. N. White Company. Mr. Long went on to make a number of unique objects for the White family, including luggage, pallor chairs (there is a hilarious story of Mr. Long walking thru the factory carrying a wooden leg over his shoulder, but some things should remain private), and wooden figures.

In 1925 the De Luxe case was introduced and featured "rich silk plushes, in a variety of delicate tints and gorgeous shades...superb leathers in seven finishes, gold plated locks, catches and corner protectors." De Luxe cases were often sold with "Silver Tone" model instruments, and were built to high standards. Also, the case department introduced the combination case which would hold two instruments (to date I have only seen two examples of combination cases). The quality of the cases continued to improve throughout the 1930's, so much so that they were featured with most of the instruments in each catalog from 1930-1941.

There was no case production during WW II. To find out what the company was doing during WW II Click here! After the war, case production was very similar to what the cases looked like just before the war started.

Starting in 1948, a new case design was rolled out along with new colors and the redesigned "King" crown. Cases were also made with "Syntheco" a vinyl coated covering which was water and scuff repellent. The cases were trimmed out with all new hardware (the handles were much improved) and new top hinges. The 1954 catalog shows the entire line up of redesigned cases. Around 1955-56, the company introduced their most famous case which featured gray alligator skin on the outside, and blue felt lining on the inside, this case was featured in an advertisment because it had fallen out of a car on an Arizona high at 70 miles per hour and the trumpet inside was still in perfect shape.

1911 King Catalog

1929 King Catalog

1930-1941

1946-1947

1948-1952

1954

1958

Most Common Inside Case Label

1950's King Handel

1950's American Standard Case Label

1965 Cleveland Case Label

1964 King Case Label