Search Results for: instrument makers

School For Violin Makers

Paul Mozell March 5, 2018 March 5, 2018Uncategorized 0

As part of my tour of instrument makers’ workshops, I made a late winter stop at The Violin Making & Repair program at the North Bennett Street School in Boston’s North End neighborhood. The program accommodates ten students in the three year program who are passionate about working with their hands, using techniques traceable back to the great Antonio Stradaveri. Click here to see photographs taken at artisans’ studios making, guitars, brass, flutes, and pipe organs. I am actively searching for a magazine to run this story. Referrals appreciated!

Pipe Organ Makers — C.B. Fisk, Inc., of Gloucester, MA

Paul Mozell June 18, 2017 June 18, 2017Architecture, Editorial 3

I recently visited the factory of C.B. Fisk, makers of pipe organs in Gloucester, MA. A team of about twenty seven highly skilled craftspeople build instruments that are close relatives of the organs used by Bach in the 1700’s. Superficially, the workspaces resemble common machine shops and woodworking facilities, but there is more than meets the eye. Built to very tight tolerances, a large organ for a church can take up to six months to complete — and that does not include shipping and assembly. A 1/16 scale model of each organ is built by the shop’s designated model-maker, and each organ is dry-fit in the plant before shipping. Visit my posts about Tippin Guitars, Haynes Flute. S.E. Shires, Co. (brass instruments), and Christoper White Violins.

Artificial Intelligence Can’t Do Work Like this: Hands and Minds Required

Paul Mozell March 31, 2023 March 31, 2023Uncategorized 0

Perhaps you share my concern that artificial intelligence (AI) may be taking us to a future that has no need for people who work with their hands. I’d like your help in identifying folks who build things that require dexterity, creativity, hand-eye coordination and plenty of strength and love of their work. I’m planning a photo essay similar to my project published last year in the Boston Globe about instrument makers. You can help! Just PM me with referrals to folks who work in this area as inventors, scientists, white collar or blue. I’m just not looking for photographs of people glued to screens. Check out the gallery here for inspiration. Thanks! And, please share with friends.

Boston Violin Maker Christopher White

Paul Mozell March 9, 2017 October 5, 2021Editorial, Music 0

In late August I visited S.E. Shires, Co. to photograph the crafting of custom trumpets and trombones.

How to Make Trumpets and Trombones

Paul Mozell August 24, 2016 August 24, 2016Editorial, Music 0

In late August I visited S.E. Shires, Co. to photograph the crafting of custom trumpets and trombones.

Flute Making In Acton, MA

Paul Mozell March 5, 2016 March 5, 2016Editorial, Music 0

As part of my new series celebrating musical instrument makers in New England, I visited Wm. S. Haynes, makers of flutes in Acton, MA. Founded in Boston in 1888, the company is the oldest flute-maker in America, producing fine custom-made silver, gold, and platinum instruments for discriminating musicians around the world. To learn more about Wm S. Haynes Flutes, click here. To see photographs of my visit to Tippin Guitars in Marblehead, MA, click here.

How to Build A Fine Guitar

Paul Mozell March 25, 2015 March 25, 2015Editorial, Music, Portraits 0

Today I began work on a new project to photograph makers of musical instruments in the Boston area. Bill Tippin of Tippin Guitars in Marblehead, MA welcomed me to his shop on the waterfront. A master luthier with over 30 years of experience making fine instruments, Bill specializes in crafting and repairing steel string guitars for finger-pickers and flat-pickers. Each instrument is custom built for the owner, considering the style of music, technique, and sound preferred by the musician. Recently he has parlayed his devotion to deep sea fishing into a sideline for his shop — custom made fishing rods. Please click the little arrows for full screen view.