The progress reports

Each week (hopefully) we update this page with new photos of instruments in progress. The updates are usually made on Monday.

We hope that you enjoy seeing the progress on your instrument and those of others who have them on order.

Week ending November 4, 2002

Rue Elizabeth French Megrew Gale

1909-2002

This week marks the passing of my grandmother, after a period of deteriorating health. She was very supportive of me, and we will miss her very much. We will be travelling to Massachusetts for her memorial service later this month.

Justin has returned to us from his ship-building experience in California. His first assignment was to carve a pumpkin. His is the one on the left. (Don't look at us like that - he was the one who chose it...)

And here is the result. The seeds lasted only a day or two. MMM!.

Doyle: the crank was silver soldered and cleaned up.

Doyle: the wheel being shaped

Doyle: the existing shaft is bent, so Justin in making a new one.

Doyle: Cali is refinishing the keybox top.

Making patterns for casting cranks. Everyone contributed to this effort: Cali made the resin casting on the left and the smaller wood pattern, Justin made the big wood pattern, and I prepared the metal model from a Pajot Jeune luteback from our collection.

The head block for VG37 is at upper right.

VG37: the sides are being bent and secured in the form.

LB4: gluing in the next-to-last rib after fitting.

The parts for the Colson museum restoration have been made and sent off, and I forgot to take a picture. ;-( With luck, the restorer will send us a photo of what they look like in situ.

VG36: something else secret - but who knows what? ;-)

Here's the "monk" gurdy getting cracks in the side repaired.

Out in the spray room, things are improving: the electricals (with remote switch) have been installed for the HVLP turbine, and the exhaust fan has been put up (upper left)...

... and now there's light in there, so we can see what we're doing. At left, the "windows" to the main finishing and computer room will contain air filters to remove dust and other particulates.

Justin produced a stock of 7/8" maple doweling for making marudai, a stand for a Japanese braiding artform called kumihimo.

See last week for more pictures.

Please contact us if you have comments or questions about this page or other pages on this site.

Alden and Cali Hackmann
Olympic Musical Instruments

Beati illi qui in circulum circumeunt, fient enim magnae rotae.

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