Whiptips: hard to find spring-type closure for small bags
Whiptips is an advice column for readers to ask questions or offer advice by leaving your comments. View the Whiptips archive here. You can submit questions, to whiptips@gmail.com. Please include photos with your questions!
Thank you, Whipup readers for a great response to the necktie Whiptip. There are some excellent resources and ideas there, and also some recommendations for people who’d offer their services. Thanks for all your help!
Whipup reader Nina writes: “I’m looking for a metal enclosure that you squeeze the corners to open that is often used on small coin purses and soft eyeglass cases. They often are about 3.5 to 4 inches wide. I have no idea where to look or who else to contact for this info.” You know the kind, a press-to-open, and release-to-close small bag closure… instantly, you know it, but don’t know where to get it.
I was going to write that you could recycle them from old tired purses found at jumble sales. But, I looked around and found a reference to handbag accessories on Craftster (which was down as of this writing), but I could see the mention of Ghee’s in Shreveport, LA, USA- they sell handbag making equipment. This is considered a type of ‘handbag frame’ in their catalog, and is called an “Eyeglass/Coin Frame”. They are sold as pairs and are only about 4-5 USD.
Can anyone else recommend handbag making equipment sources for hard-to-find items like these? Nina is located in Kansas City, Missouri, if you know of any bricks-and-mortar shops too!
July 3rd, 2006 at 8:15 am
you’ll get addicted looking at everything on this site:
http://www.axelrodco.com/
great prices and they have excellent customer service as well.
July 3rd, 2006 at 10:57 am
I like Lacis for purse frames and such. Free shipping! The snap frames are near the middle of the page.
July 3rd, 2006 at 6:45 pm
Here’s an aussie supplier for the purse spring clips http://www.thequiltingheart.com/Pages/subcatenormal.aspx?cateid=20&catename=Bag%20Accessories&cateinclude=Yes
July 4th, 2006 at 8:14 am
Tall Poppy Craft sells pretty much just handbag-making supplies. some patterns, some fabric, and then lots of little bits that are harder to find. I have bought stuff from them before and everything was great.
http://www.tallpoppycraft.com
(p.s. I promise I don’t work for them, just a happy customer)
July 4th, 2006 at 7:33 pm
http://www.joggles.com carries a lot of handbag supplies.
July 6th, 2006 at 2:11 am
My grandmother was brilliant:
I have an old eyeglass case of hers with a spring-type closure. I always assumed that she purchased it from a store, but my mother tells me that she made it herself – very professional-looking.
Upon further inspection, I realized that she, too was not able to find an eyeglass/coin frame. In its place she used short, cut pieces of an old retractable metal tape-measure! And 30+ years later, it still closes perfectly. Give it a try!
July 6th, 2006 at 8:52 pm
Try this for all sorts of hardware in wholesale quantities
http://www.umei.com/
July 9th, 2006 at 3:47 am
Not sure what you are thinking of paying but Ghees has the type closures you are looking for:
http://www.ghees.com/
And thank you the the lady who talked about her grandmother’s bag – that sure helped with what I say pictured at Ghees!
July 9th, 2006 at 9:23 pm
We stock these – view them at http://www.tallpoppycraft.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=32&products_id=399
July 13th, 2006 at 6:54 pm
In the UK – try Kleins they have both a ‘real’ shop and internet one. They have flat springs (for coin purses and glasses cases) as well as a whole host of other bag making stuff.
http://www.kleins.co.uk