Welcome to our forum. A Message To Our New and Prospective Members . Check out our Forum Rules. Lets keep this forum an enjoyable place to visit.

Check out our 2023 Group Christmas Project HERE

AAA
Avatar
Please consider registering
guest
sp_LogInOut Log Insp_Registration Register
Register | Lost password?
Advanced Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
sp_Feed Topic RSSsp_TopicIcon
Alfred Davis 7/8 Violin - Minnesota Luthier
Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 Topic Rating: 5 (3 votes) 
Avatar
ccozic

New member
Members
June 25, 2015 - 1:05 pm
Member Since: June 25, 2015
Forum Posts: 2
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I just acquired a 7/8 violin built in 1979 by Alfred Davis of Albert Lea, Minnesota.

Is anyone aware of his violins?

There is very little info online. One source said he built approx. 50 violins and X number of violas. He passed away in 1984.

http://s1262.photobucket.com/u.....l.jpg.html

http://s1262.photobucket.com/u.....f.jpg.html

Avatar
coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
June 25, 2015 - 1:15 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

I am not aware of the violins made by him.

Very very pretty by the way.  So are you going to be playing this violin.  I love he 7/8 viiolins..They feel so sweet to play.   My friend has one from 1900 czech....... and I love it's dainty feel.

Welcome to the forum  I hope you play and hang around.

Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Avatar
ccozic

New member
Members
June 27, 2015 - 2:29 pm
Member Since: June 25, 2015
Forum Posts: 2
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Thank you Toni for the welcome.

I took it to a neighborhood violin shop. They had never heard of Alfred but they did inform me it had a pearwood fingerboard.

I plan to keep it for a while at least....I am slowly learning how to play; doing more collecting/selling than playing.

Cheers,

Charles

Avatar
joshdavis79

Member
Members
February 21, 2016 - 10:07 pm
Member Since: February 21, 2016
Forum Posts: 3
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Alfred Davis was my great granddad.  He died when I was 4 from leukemia.  He made his violins in the basement of his, and my great grandma's house on Sunset Street in Albert Lea, MN.  He was also an avid ametuer radio enthusiast. I don't remember too much about him, but family keeps his legacy going.  I have a coat and a couple of the tools he used when he made his violins.  I don't know how active this thread is but I can post more on him of there is an interest. 

Avatar
Fiddlestix
Michigan, USA

King
Members

Regulars
February 22, 2016 - 12:35 am
Member Since: January 21, 2012
Forum Posts: 2647
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

joshdavis79: Of course we have an interest in your great granddad. This is a violin forum so  you can post any information you have. Including photo's if you have them.

It's great that you found "ecozic's" post.

We welcome you both to the Fiddlerman forum.

thumbs-up

Ken.

Avatar
BillyG
Brora, North-east Scotland
February 22, 2016 - 3:42 am
Member Since: March 22, 2014
Forum Posts: 3744
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

Absolutely - I second what Ken said above - we're just one big family here and apart from the "technical stuff" ranging from questions about how to play Paganini pieces all the way down to how-to-tune-my-violin, we love reading violin/fiddle related stories... share any information / pics you care to, it will be welcome ! thumbs-up

I seriously recommend not copying my mistakes. D'oh - guntohead.JPG

Please make your own, different mistakes, and help us all learn :-)

Avatar
coolpinkone
California, the place of my heart
February 22, 2016 - 1:19 pm
Member Since: January 11, 2012
Forum Posts: 4180
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

joshdavis79 

wow... congrats for finding that post.  I am very very pleased to meet you.  I got goosebumps and smiles reading  your post.

I would love to hear more of your grandfather.

Thank you for posting.  Welcome.. welcome.

Toni

Vibrato Desperato.... Desperately seeking vibrato

Avatar
Fiddlerman
Fort Lauderdale
February 23, 2016 - 3:53 pm
Member Since: September 26, 2010
Forum Posts: 16429

joshdavis79, are you a player as well. Welcome to the forum.

"The richest person is not the one who has the most,
but the one who needs the least."

Avatar
Mark
Members

Regulars
March 1, 2016 - 2:26 am
Member Since: September 30, 2014
Forum Posts: 2149
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

joshdavis79

Welcome to the forum, and I agree we would like to hear about you Grandpa.

 

Mark

Master the Frog and you have mastered the bow.

Albert Sammons

Avatar
joshdavis79

Member
Members
April 30, 2016 - 5:42 pm
Member Since: February 21, 2016
Forum Posts: 3
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I'm on the road right now, but when I get home, I will post pictures I have of him making violins

Avatar
joshdavis79

Member
Members
September 4, 2016 - 12:34 pm
Member Since: February 21, 2016
Forum Posts: 3
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline

image.jpegImage Enlargerimage-1.jpegImage Enlargerimage-2.jpegImage Enlargerimage-3.jpegImage Enlargerimage-4.jpegImage Enlargerimage-5.jpegImage Enlargerimage-6.jpegImage Enlargerimage-7.jpegImage Enlargerimage-8.jpegImage Enlargerimage-9.jpegImage Enlargerimage-10.jpegImage Enlargerimage-11.jpegImage Enlargerimage-12.jpegImage EnlargerHi everyone I know it's been a while but I promised I'd do it.  Here are some pictures of my great granddad Alfred Davis making some of his violins.  As I said he was also a radioman in the navy and was an amateur radio enthusiast.  I hope this gives you a visual of the mystery behind the violins ?

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments
Avatar
AlanDanaLewis

New member
Members
March 14, 2021 - 10:12 pm
Member Since: March 14, 2021
Forum Posts: 1
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
12sp_Permalink sp_Print
0

I am very happy you posted the information and pictures of your 'great granddad.' I find the posting wonderful. I like that he was so gracious and giving of himself to others. No doubt he clearly loved making violins and was a very skilled maker. Love the history of them.

Thanks!

Alan

Avatar
Mouse
June 28, 2021 - 10:21 am
Member Since: December 26, 2018
Forum Posts: 5309
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
13sp_Permalink sp_Print
5

I moved this old thread from the For Sale. This violin was never for sale and the thread is wonderful!

The Bumblebee Flies!

Please ignore any typos. My typing ability on a real typewriter did not transfer to these device key pads.

Forum Timezone: America/New_York
Most Users Ever Online: 696
Currently Online:
Guest(s) 154
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Members Birthdays
sp_BirthdayIcon
Today None
Upcoming Sofia Leo, TKDennis, FiddleDetroit, CookiesViolin, JPferrman, Designer 88, LyleA, Stephen, Dorque, Trisha, Elaisa, wonderputz, Gordon Shumway, dougga, Russionleo, JohnG
Top Posters:
ELCBK: 7761
ABitRusty: 3915
Mad_Wed: 2849
Barry: 2690
Fiddlestix: 2647
Oliver: 2439
Gordon Shumway: 2425
DanielB: 2379
Mark: 2149
damfino: 2113
Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 3
Members: 31663
Moderators: 0
Admins: 7
Forum Stats:
Groups: 16
Forums: 81
Topics: 10590
Posts: 134224
Newest Members:
Adityaail, SoCal335, Jan Howard, edwardcheng, Oscar Stern, bryanhanson, bittruster, fiddlecastro, jackdaniel, romanmills08
Administrators: Fiddlerman: 16429, KindaScratchy: 1760, coolpinkone: 4180, BillyG: 3744, MrsFiddlerman: 2, Jimmie Bjorling: 0, Mouse: 5309