You may remember Tim Black a long time Silverton Colorado resident and violin maker from an earlier post “Silverton Music Magic Maker“, about “Baby” the child sized violin that he built for a young girl who is growing up in our town.    Well Tim has not been slacking this winter, instead he’s been chasing a dream and a vision for Silverton’s school children.  He wanted to donate one of his creations so that children attending school here would have  opportunity to experience a classical journey through music.  He conceived an idea to build a cello. He had never built one before, and began the journey with little financial support in the beginning, but little by little the town rallied and thus a dream was born.

 

The Dreamer

CREATING A FIRST CELLO

By: Tim Black (Guest Author)

I made a mold from the cello I restored back in 2008.

(Origins)

Some modification was required to make the mold conform with standard measurements.

(The Mold)

The construction of this cello was a community effort. My labor and skill was a gift. It was also a gift to me: an opportunity to build a first cello.

(Beggars)

As contributions arrived I collected materials. Venture Snowboards (another artisan presence in Silverton, Colorado) donated a piece of poplar laminate for the back of the cello. The hardwood set that goes into a cello is the biggest investment. Ventures gift freed funds for other purchases.

(Collected Parts)

Completing the form work was the first step. I had thinned some poplar for the sides and created some new tools as I went. Once the form work was complete, I could trace the outline to the plates. I had to get creative in marking the plates for carving because of the limits of my tools. The profiles were marked in the plate halves before they were joined. I had also learned that clamping the glued halves was unnecessary. The glue drew the halves tightly together as it dried.

(Form Work)

This was the first instrument on which  I got to use my new luthiers planes. The edge work and coving was more detailed than previous instruments I had finished with only scrapers.

(Carving)

Assembly required bigger clamps. I was working with larger glueing  surfaces and big pieces to clamp. I had several “clamping rehearsals” to be sure I could place the clamps  fast enough within the working time of the glue.

(Assembly)

(Fitting The Neck)

I was following several currents of thought on finishing when I decided to add oil colors to varnish. The wood was thoroughly sealed and I applied a glaze of yellow ocher. A couple coats of a pumpkin colored glaze muted the bright yellow creating this handsome blonde finish. The result is this fine copy with a number of improvements over the original with a big mellow sound. This cello a gift to Silverton School, should give generations of Silverton children a great start learning to play.

(Pumpkin Glaze)

(Plane)

(Dreams Do Come True)

Tim Black and the Silverton School Cello  A giant contribution to our youth. You make us proud Tim!

I’ve heard this instrument sing. I’ve heard it compared to others even its 2008 restored forefather and there is no comparison.  This cello sings deep soulful tunes that carries you away to times and places long forgotten.  An amazing gift to our youth.

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It is done, I passed my interview with Montanya Distillers,  a micro distillery of  heavenly rum spirits.

(Photos in this collage by Bruce Conrad)

I am stoked.  I would have to categorize Montanya Distillers among the Artisans of Silverton.  The water from our San Juan Mountains and the elevation of our town is in part why the Montanya Rum has such a smooth and delicate flavor. The distillers have combined these and other facets of fine micro distilling to create one of the finest spirits products in the country.

I’ll be on a 3 month trial contract to begin with.  Not a month out from today and I’ll be traveling back to Arizona to establish new clientele and distribution of the fine, elegant and enticing Montanya rum and cocktail experience to elite locations in the state. Will be picking up as many massage jobs while there as well.   This looks like a really good year!.  Thank you Brice and Karen Hoskin of Montanya Distillers for entrusting me this opportunity!  I’ll do my best!

(The Marrakech Martini – This and all of the following photos are by local photographer and Deputy Sheriff, Bruce Conrad)

Some links about Montanya  Distillers that you may enjoy:

1) About Montanya Distillers

(The Siracha Sour)

2) The  Mountains

3) The  Articles

(The Caribbean Rum Punch)

4) An older page with many more Bruce Conrad photos of the Delicious Cocktails

(The Javatini)

Hope you enjoyed a delightful experience while visiting these pages.

My intent is to make this work, to grow in the industry and with this company.  I see my  dreams and passions coming to fruition -  it’s so exciting.

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Apr 7, 2010

The windows wide open, fresh air filling the room, Bright sunshine filtering in, this was a glorious day!  Started with breakfast with my friend Pam, then home to organize stuff for a bit. Later comes a visit from Mark Garvin one of the resident carpenters in town.  Mark is a master worker!  He transformed my so so bathroom into a spa retreat in no time at all and with little expense to me and great suggestions.  Only a couple more things need to be done to finish my vision and make the space a wee bit more user friendly and wallah(!) a gorgeous inviting place that’s functional and friendly.   Maryanne, Marks wife is the owner and fitness guru of Silverton Movement Center and has become a great friend.  She sent home with me something really cool today to go with my retreat.  It’s called “CALDREA” (countertop cleaner and liquid dish soap), and it smells heavenly and its a safe product.  Okay I have a new product line that I’m buying my household cleansers from!! I came right home and started wiping down the bathroom surfaces with it, relishing in how wonderful it cleans leaving the bathroom smelling wonderful.  I’m getting some of this stuff for Heather to try!!!  Maryanne also set me up with a couple and possibly more massages this weekend at her massage site. Bring ‘em on!  Mark and Maryanne are just really good people and I am very thankful that I have met them both and that they have been so welcoming to me since moving to Silverton.  Truly, I may not have done as well as I have if not for Maryanne’s referrals and support, and I would not be as happy in my abode if not for Marks creation.  Thank you guys!

Pro is not coming home this summer.  It was really causing me hardship to pull it off this soon. Kathy of Kickapoo Center Farm, who is such a sweetheart, is letting him stay at her place, in Wisconsin, until I can move him comfortably.  It takes a huge burden off of me since June is coming right around the corner and I haven’t had the opportunity to locate an affordable boarding situation. Kathy has been a Savior, a Saint, and a good friend!  Thanks Kathy.

Okay that’s it for today’s Thankful Thursday folks. I’m off to spend the evening with Dragon (the bearded dragon), and Cookie (the guinea pig). Great companionship!

Happy Thankful Thursday, All!

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THE ART OF BUILDING VIOLINS BY MASTER CRAFTSMAN – TIM BLACK

(Violin’s Viola’s Cello’s  built by Tim Black. NOTE: pictured for scale, “Baby” – the light colored child’s violin to be discussed below)

Intro by: Susan Catt THE PONY EXPRESSION – Tim Black is a very interesting man. Part of the unique color of Silverton, he wears many hats to include landlord, salesman, violin maker.  When you take some time to get to know Tim, TJ is  what we call him here in our alpine mountain home, you learn that he has lived a very different life from the most of us, and although he seems a perfect fit for this old mining town, he is also a rather rare gem. Tj loved classic music from a very early age. Now at a retirement age he has picked it back up with a love and devotion many of us wish we possessed.

His creed…

His craft… ( Birth of “Baby”)

It’s a new experience for me to make an undersized violin. Scaling violins for children is a challenge. The overall length of the violin should be about one third height of the child. Little people should be able to hold the instrument in playing position and cup the end of the scroll in their hand.

No less detail goes into a small instrument. I’m wondering what I can bring to a small violin. In carving this tiny wonder I am observing the tonal relationships of the taps. The pitches are higher. I am careful to balance modes just as I do in full size instruments.

Weight is important too. I figured weight goals for parts by cubing the scale of the smaller instrument and multiplying the weight of a full size parts by that factor.  A 1/4 size violin is 80% the size of a 4/4 violin. .80 cubed is .512. If a finished scroll and fingerboard weighs 140 grams in a standard violin, the small scroll should weigh 71-2 grams. I estimate the final weight of the 1/4 size at 190 grams. Could there be such a things as a concert quality under size violin?

(“Baby” being born)

Often a child’s instrument is built like a club with little regard for tone or comfort of the set up. The action of the violin is important so that no undue force is required to finger the strings. Reliable  friction pegs are important for the violin to hold its’ tune. Imagine poor teacher besieged with a dozen students with poorly adjusted instruments. Well adjusted, stable instruments enhance the learning experience and maximize teacher time. The  better the experience children have with an instrument they will more likely continue.

(Pieces and parts of a violin in progress)

(Viola and violin by Tim Black Silverton, Colorado)

In conclusion THE PONY EXPRESSION has decided to add a series on Tim Black and his violins so please stay tuned. “Baby’s” coming out pics will come soon. A new Cello may be in a the works, an Opas is gelling as we speak.

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