Violin
Maker
Chester M. Olsen
Date1965, 03/03
Place MadeWakonda, South Dakota, United States, North America
SignedWritten in black permanent marker on inside of back, the date written again in pencil: Chester Olsen / Wakonda S.D. / 3-28-65 [in pencil] 3-28-65 [in black permanent marker, partially oblit.] / Chinese Elm / woodMarkingsStamped on end of E-peg: EStamped on end of A-peg: G
Stamped on end of D-peg: D
Stamped on end of G-peg: A
Bridge branded: ·JOHN JUZEK· / form / PRAGUE [inside oval]DescriptionChester M. Olsen (April 1, 1910 – August 28, 2002) was born in South Dakota to a Danish mother and a Danish-American father born in Wisconsin. He is listed as working on his family’s farm in Yankton in the 1930 Census. Olsen usually used local woods to save money.
Top: two-piece, semi-slab-cut pine: medium grain
Back: two-piece, slab-cut Chinese elm
Ribs: beech, cut off-the-quarter
Head and neck: Chinese elm; extra turn on scroll; raised eye not continuous with volute
Edging: edges not scooped
Purfling: single walnut strip
Varnish: light orange
Fingerboard: black-painted maple; maple wedge added to raise height
Nut: walnut
Tailpiece: black-stained ebony; saddle missing
Tailgut: double, coated copper electrical wire
Pegs: four oak
Saddle: walnut; finished with same varnish as body
Endpin: walnut; small, nearly cone-shaped head; finished with same varnish as body
F-holes: rounded upper and lower wings
Linings: pine; small; square
Corner blocks: pine
Top block: pine; rectangular
Bottom block: pine; rectangular
Bassbar: pine; significantly higher at center
Other: circular saw marks visible on inside and outside of ribsDimensionsTotal violin length: 593 mm
Back length: 357 mm
Upper bout width: 165 mm
Center bout width: 109 mm
Lower bout width: 203 mm
Upper rib height: 32-34 mm
Center rib height: 32-34 mm
Lower rib height: 32-33 mm
Stop length: 193 mm
Vibrating string length: 329 mm
Neck length (bottom of nut to ribs): 131 mmProvenanceOwned by the family of the maker until donation to the National Music Museum.
Credit LineGift of Colin Olsen, 2002
Object number10216
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