We are saddened to announce the death of Carl Protzmann Jr. who passed away on Sunday October 14. Carl served as HGI’s Chief Estimator for several decades and also worked in project management and engineering. His fine engineering work and attention to detail has contributed to the company’s success and can be found on many of HGI’s most prestigious projects across the country. We will all miss Carl as a colleague and friend after thirty-four years of loyal service to the company. Carl will be sadly missed. Rest in Peace dear friend.
Author Archives: Robert
The next newsletter is on the way!
Folks the next edition of the HGI newsletter is in the works as I type this. If you want to find out more about the types of freestanding, wall-standing, wall hanging and table display cases that we fabricate right here in the USA, you need to get our newsletter. If you aren’t on our list, you can easily add yourself by visiting this website at www.guenschel.com or visiting our facebook page.
Both locations feature the newsletter signup forms. The forth coming newsletter will feature some of our latest projects as well as web related features that we continue to improve to make your experience faster, easier and more informative.
Free-standing Display Case Flexibility
Have you ever wondered how to get the most out of your display case investment? How many of you consider future uses when deciding on a display case purchase? In today’s economic environment, getting the most flexibility out of a purchase is the logical approach.
There are many options when deciding on a display case. Without a doubt, size of the case is the first consideration but lighting, type of glass, where the display case is going to be located and the need for shelving are all things that go into the decision making process. For sake of discussion, let us say that we are looking for a display case to house a mannequin. The height, width and depth requirements are all fairly straight forward but here is a thought. Would you ever want to display other accessories in the case that may be connected to what the mannequin is wearing? When making an investment decision for a new case, one should consider such things as other possible uses.
Freestanding display cases offer the greatest flexibility. Our shelving system is designed to allow for unobstructed space for something like a mannequin while also providing adjacent shelf space to display artifacts that are small and fit well on shelving. Shelving can be adjusted within the display space and is only limited by the size of the shelves. Shelving can be ordered in varying widths. Should the display get switched out at some time in the future, additional shelving can easily be added to the entire display area. False back panels can be ordered if the display case needs to be set against a wall.
Thinking outside of the box when developing a display strategy will result in greater long term flexibility. One of the services that we offer at Helmut Guenschel, Inc. is design considerations. Increasing the size of a display case when ordering may provide for greater flexibility in the future. Additional shelving and other accessories are available should the need arise.
There is no cost involved to talk to us. Give us a call or send us an email to discuss your next project and let’s think outside of the box together. From our Redesigned for 2012 Accession™ series to the Vista™ and Viewall® lines, we have an solution for your display needs.
I can be reached at info@guenschel.com or by phone at 1.800.852.2525.
AAM 2012 in Minneapolis St. Paul
The American Association of Museum show this year is well underway. The opening day welcomed HGI with a great turnout and interest. If you haven’t had an opportunity to stop by booth #615 to see our new Accession™ series freestanding display cases, you are missing out. These cases are bright, airy and beautiful.
The AAM show runs for another two days and I look forward to seeing all of you there. Tuesday, May 1st, is 12 noon until 6PM and Wednesday, May 2nd, is 10AM until 2PM. Stop by and browse through the selection of freestanding and table display cases. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible.
AAM Annual Meeting 2012
The theme this year will be Creative Community and runs from April 29th through May 2nd.
We at Helmut Guenschel, Inc. would like to invite you to stop by our booth, #615, to discuss your design challenges. HGI is know for custom design solutions and the theme this year is one that fits our business well. Creative solutions to custom design challenges is something that we always look forward to. Sure you can order display cases that fall into one of our product lines such as Viewall®. Vista™ and Accession™ but it is the custom jobs that get our creative juices flowing.
The talented folks at Helmut Guenschel, Inc. look forward to what this year’s show will bring. When coming to the show this year, bring along your challenging display solution needs and let us know what you would like to discuss.
We will be more than happy to set time aside for you to address your needs. If you have your information in an electronic format, we will even give you a jump start by having our estimating department begin working up an estimate for you even while we are at the show.
Contact us at info@guenschel.com or call us at 800.852.2525 if there are specifics that you would like to discuss while meeting with us at the show.
U.S. Army Ordnance School & Museum, Fort Lee
We recently completed the final delivery of display cases to the U.S. Army Ordnance School & Museum in Fort Lee, Virginia. The display solutions included table cases and wall standing display cases. The wall standing cases came in two flavors, one with locking storage below the exhibit space and one with locking pullout exhibit drawers supplied with lockable glass covers.
The table cases are built to last, featuring glass vitrines and strong slab end table bases. The glass vitrines feature mitered corners and clear UV cured joints providing an unobstructed view of the artifacts in the case. The fabric wrapped display decks offset the artifacts elegantly. Silicone seals ensure that dust infiltration is limited. The furniture quality slab end bases featured book matched maple veneer with a natural finish.
The wall standing display cases were equipped with fiber optic lighting, clear white laminated safety glass, dust seals and fabric wrapped display decks and back panels. The base portions feature the same furniture quality book matched maple veneer with a natural finish. The drawer fronts came out of hand selected sheets to ensure a continuous grain flow over the extent of the drawers.
The large single panel doors swing open effortlessly and smoothly providing an unrestricted access to the display space. Heat within the display area is eliminated through the use of fiber optic lighting that keeps the heat source located securely outside of the sealed display space. The natural linen wrapped panels provide an elegant and clean backdrop to the artifacts that will be stored within. Desiccant drawers are secured out of view providing 
a balanced humidity level through out the display case. The passive system is both quiet and not dependent upon a power source to function.
Quality, conservation and security are the hallmark of Helmut Guenschel, Inc display solutions. Our display solutions are fabricated right here in the United States in Baltimore, MD ensuring that we do our part to keep the economy moving forward.
Army Heritage Center, Carlisle, PA
When was the last time that you were at the Army Heritage Center? Now is the time to visit this unique museum located in beautiful south central Pennsylvania. The Carlisle, PA museum recently took delivery of two very large Viewall® display cases installed by the talented technicians from Helmut Guenschel, Inc.
Each display case measures a whopping 10′ wide by 10′ deep and 8′ tall with clear white laminated safety glass and fiber optic lighting. These museum quality display cases are sealed against dust and feature a passive climate control system. The fiber optic lighting ensures that there is no heat transfer to the interior of these sealed environments.
The clear white laminated safety glass allows visitors to see the beauty of the flags without 
the greenish tint associated with regular glass and also protects the flags from harmful UV rays. Each display case features a pair of doors measuring five feet wide by eight feet tall that swing open effortlessly, providing a wide clear path that allows museum personnel to slide the flag display pedestals into the case.
Photo Credit: Army Heritage Museum, U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center, Army War College, Carlisle Barracks
Do you need a quality trophy display case?
Let’s say that you are looking for a trophy display case but you want something a bit cleaner looking than your run of the mill cases. What are your options? Continue reading and I will give you a tour of some HGI display case options as well as a Front system that will allow you to convert an existing space into a display space!
For starters, you need to decide where you want to locate your display case. Are you interested in flexibility? Do you want to be able to move the display case around? Are you looking to save floor space and rather have the custom display case hanging on the wall? How do you plan to light your display case? These are all questions that need to be considered. For starters, let us address the first few questions above.
If you want flexibility and visibility all around a display case, then consider a free standing display case such as our Accession™ Series Free-standing. The Accession™ Series of free standing display cases is available with a glass top for natural lighting or a light box top with standard LED lighting or optional Fiber Optic lighting. Both offer UV free lighting. The LED lighting provides a wash of light where the Fiber Optic lighting choice provides more of a concentrated point of light. Accession™ Series cases feature cast in place seals reducing the chances of dust infiltration. If floor space is a premium then consider a wall mounted display case or a recessed wall mount display case.
Our Vista™ line of wall display cases offer options such as wall mount, semi-recessed and recessed installations. Vista™ offers the HGI patented concealed hinge design allowing premium access to the display area. These display cases are available in several standard painted finishes with lighting options ranging from unlit, LED and Fiber Optic lighting. Custom colors and anodized finishes are available options. The shelving system features concealed shelf standards, shelf brackets and tempered glass shelves. Wall display cases are semi-permanent to permanent installations freeing up valuable floor space. Vista™ wall cases feature hinged doors so there is no unsightly overlapping glass, unsightly locks and glass sliding track typical of standard trophy cases. The locks are fully concealed where only a small hole is required to access the lock mechanism. Seal packages are available to reduce the problem of dust infiltration. If you like the clean look of the Vista™ wall display case product line but need to work within a budget, Vista™ Front component systems are just what you were looking for.
The Vista™ Front component system is a engineered door system that allows you to convert a niche in the wall into a display space. The Front family of component systems offer the same quality concealed hinges and high security locks that come standard on our Viewall® and Vista™ series display cases. Cost savings are realized because you fabricate the display box and install the door system like you would a window. Whether you are utilizing an existing space or working on a renovation project or new construction, HGI can fabricate a Vista™ Front system to fit your needs. Let your imagination run and contact us for a free quotation on any of the products discussed here today.
Stay tuned for our next article covering glass options when designing your next display case solution.
Accession™, Vista™ and Vista™ Front Component Systems can solve your trophy display case needs. Please call us at 800.852.2525 or email us at info@guenschel.com for your free design assistance and quote.
Johns Hopkin’s Gilman Hall Display Cases
The Johns Hopkins Archaeological Museum at Gilman Hall was once again the focus of an article. Helmut Guenschel Inc. is proud to have had the opportunity to provide the display solutions that define the space of this museum. As the article by Catherine P. Foster from the ASOR at the Boston University points out, a thousand fiber optic fixtures provide the light for the 650 artifacts on display. Please read more from the article by following the link below to find out more about this fine Johns Hopkins facility and the conservation quality display cases that help define the space within. Included below are some pictures from the article.
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- Gilman Hall Viewall Freestanding Case
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- Gilman Hall Viewall Display Cases
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- Gilman Hall Viewall Display Cases
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- Gilman Hall Storage Drawers
Credit for the article and pictures seen here go to the fine folks at ASOR at the Boston University and the author Catherine P. Foster. Original article can be found here.
Denver Museum of Nature and Science
What do you do when you need to get two bodies on display along with a big rock? You call the display solution experts at Helmut Guenschel, Inc. and they fabricate and install a disappearing case that puts all of the focus on your exhibit. We specialize in custom display cases built to fit your specifications. Check out the abs on that guy!
You can watch a video of the case assembly and exhibit installation below thanks to the good folks at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.