Gallery: iPad-Case Maker Preserves a Dying Craft
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Dodo cases are not supposed to exist. Just like the famous flightless Mauritian native it shares a name with, traditional bookbinding should be extinct—or at least critically endangered. But instead it’s thriving at Dodo Case, a San Francisco-based manufacturer that utilizes old-school manufacturing methods to make coverings for iPads. The Gadget Lab recently got in on the ground floor of their operation, learned how the case itself came about, where its inspiration came from, and why an extinct bird is the perfect mascot for a company that’s preserving a dying craft. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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The first spark for the Dodo came when its founders Patrick Buckley and Craig Dalton heard rumors of an Apple tablet. The only problem was, the iPad was not real yet … at least officially. But they wanted to produce a cool case for the forthcoming device and have it available at launch. They scoured Apple’s website and found some rough dimensions of what looked like a tablet-like gadget. From that they were able to extrapolate the iPad’s rough dimensions and build a working prototype. In this image a worker applies the wooden board to the exterior of a Dodo case. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Dodo uses a smattering of materials like bamboo and natural cloths to build its cases. The Dodo offers a good deal of protection but admittedly isn’t indestructible. As co-founder Patrick Buckley says, “It’s certainly better than not having anything at all.” *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Most of the machinery in the Dodo factory isn’t as old as the Gooseneck. Still binding machines like the Lawson above have been around for decades. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Because Dodo uses book binding techniques that have been around for hundreds of years, the machinery they use is consequently just as old. The machine above, called the Gooseneck, was made over a century ago, and is used for customized printing. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Various colored materials are used to stamp the lettering into each Dodo case.  The tray in the top left contains various bits of movable type used with the Gooseneck to create unique type. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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The red cloth seen in the picture here is hand cut and glued inside each Dodo case. Dodo plans to make cases for other tablets and eReaders in the future, but hint that they’re not sure what those devices are yet. “We’re in a wait-and-see pattern right now,” says Buckley. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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According to Buckley, the company’s mascot is an irreverent nod to the so-called death of traditional bookbinding and shows the company’s sense of humor. He also reports that with the proliferation of digital books, Dodo is exploring ways for authors to sign their work either digitally in the form of an app or physically in the form of an iPad “dust jacket.” *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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The fabric covering for the Dodo case is squeezed through this machine to apply a thin layer of glue that will act as an adhesive for the binding. Dodo reports the rich textured fabric is much more pleasing to hold in hand than the iPad’s cold aluminum chassis. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Dodo has sold some 15,000 of its $60 iPad cases. Famous adopters include Ashton Kutcher and his wife Demi Moore, and Wired creative director Scott Dadich. Near-finished cases await the Dodo label and will be shipped off to customers soon. The Dodo factory is capable of churning out over a thousand cases in a single day. *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
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Itching to buy one? They can be ordered [here](http://www.dodocase.com/) where you can also customize the color and add on any accessories you wish. We’re partial to the Dodo bundle bag made in partnership with Rickshaw Bags. In a maelstrom of iPad accessories that all kind of look alike (mass-produced black neoprene crap anyone?) the Dodo is a welcome change. Sure it might be a little bit more expensive than your average iAccessory but think of it this way: What kind of suit would you want to have? A Wal-Mart bought off-the-rack rayon two-piece that fits like a garbage bag? Or a pricier bespoke version built by an expert to your specs with high-quality wool? Yeah, we’ll take the bespoke suit too. And a Dodo case to go along with it.  *(Photo by Jon Snyder for Wired.com)*
