Historical Stringed Instrument Business, Environmental Education Programs and American Agricultural Conservation Gardens

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PHOTO: MOTHER EARTH NEWS STAFF
The artisans work with spruce and maple that has air-dried for seven years, and put in painstaking hours shaping each part to perfection.

In celebration of little-known MOTHER EARTH NEWS-type folks from all over, including a historical stringed instrument business, environmental education program for schools and establishing the American Agricultural Conservation Gardens.

JERRY AND PAULA WOMACKS: HISTORICAL STRINGED INSTRUMENT BUSINESS

Working out of an old farmhouse in Yellow Springs, Ohio, Paula and Jerry Womacks have been making a living–for the past five years–by creating and repairing, historical stringed instruments. The Womacks, who are both skillful musicians (Paula plays the banjo and Jerry the fiddle), first became aware of the need for instrument-makers during the mid-1970’s . . . and they determined to learn the trade themselves.

The couple studied under George Kelischek, a master violin-maker from Germany, until they were confident enough to set up a workshop of their own. Their business opened with the introduction of a variety of made-to-order leg viols (violas da gamba), fashioned according to the craft traditions of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries (the Womacks are now gearing up to include handmade violins in their inventory, as well). In addition, they decided to take in stringed instruments for repair . . . and, instead of limiting sales to custom-built viols, began creating about half of their stock in advance.

Jerry and Paula have always been careful to use only the finest materials in their craft, and to spend whatever time is necessary to do every job right. The artisans work with spruce and maple that has air-dried for seven years, and put in painstaking hours shaping each part to perfection.

  • Published on Jul 1, 1982
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