Restoration of Philip P. Wolan violin

Background on the Wolan violin and Salem Massachusetts:

Repair and restoration can be important for the luthier! Recently, I have had opportunity to work on an old, bench-made violin. The label indicates an old (100 years) instrument of Massachusetts fabrication. A search identified Philip P.Wolan as the maker; he was active in Salem, Massachusetts. The instrument date is 1915 and the instrument No. is 32, as seen on the label.

Salem is an historic Massachusetts Bay town situated opposite Plymouth. It shares the same maritime background and offers a similar collection of impressive colonial structures. In the seventeenth century, witches were burned in Salem as deemed necessary by the town fathers!  That practice did not spread across the bay to the Plymouth colony, at that time. If that situation changes, you might see it first here. I will post the video!

During the 19th century, Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in Salem. He worked at the Salem Custom House where he had sufficient time to write the The Scarlet Letter, and other Puritan favorites. No witches were burned at this time.

House of Seven Gables

Salem National Maritime Museum

Stepping forward into the 20th century, talented craftsmen arrived in Salem. Philip P Wolan was one of these. Philip Wolan was keen on the most fine grained spruce for his instrument tops, as can be seen here below.

His spruce is of excellent quality showing no cracks; his rear maple also appears of very high quality.

Fine workmanship at the critical "bee sting" areas is seen.


Specifics on this restoration:

The primary effort was to re-attach the back and top plates with hide glue; glue is applied to separated areas, only. Then a reattachment of the saddle and nut was made. Next was a cleaning and application of a  restorative polish. With the neck joint always a concern, the instrument was strung and slowly brought  to tension, all the while observing neck-attach area. Next, was measured the string clearances near the nut and at the fingerboard end. Finally, Thomastic Dominant strings were fitted!

The final Wolan violin is shown below:

This fine instrument, an example of early Massachusetts craftsmanship, is now returned to its owner and is played daily. It should function well for the remaining portion of the 21st century!