Info on J.B. Allen Conn. usa

[welshman]

Hello everyone,

The curator of the F. Selech instrument collection at Oberlin college is doing research on the collection and on instruments in other collections. There is an interesting double bass in the Norwalk Ohio Firelands Museum - actually a monster bass, larger than 4/4. It is by a maker named "j. B. Allen" from Connecticut USA. Unfortunately there seems to be a lack on information on him so i thought what the heck let's ask the experts or failing that you fellow MN'ers.

there is an identical but 3/4 size bass in the Cleveland Orch. but the owner has that attributed to Prescott Concord N.H. usa. I need to talk to him to see the appraisal details and who did that. The basses are carbon copies except for the size. The question could be of a student or worker with Prescott, the time frame is consistent.

The bass is unusual in that the belly is made from multi-staves of pine, each about 3 inches wide, I don't know if the staves where bent before be formed into the table, I'll have to look closely next time to see if it is possible, the bottom c-bout corners are rounded shapes, the f-holes are linked to the rest of the table with diamond shaped links at the top and bottom of the long portions before the holes, the bout edges are carved with a linear design all around the edge of the ribs, probably more details that I can't think of right now but the question really revolves around the mysterious Mr. j. B. Allen

Any help would be nice and appreciated, i am going to check with the Us Census data to see if he surfaces there.

Thanks, I be working on a very unusual Church Bass from the collection, photos and progress to follow.

Reese

[Ron1]

Hello everyone,

The curator of the F. Selech instrument collection at Oberlin college is doing research on the collection and on instruments in other collections. There is an interesting double bass in the Norwalk Ohio Firelands Museum - actually a monster bass, larger than 4/4. It is by a maker named "j. B. Allen" from Connecticut USA. Unfortunately there seems to be a lack on information on him so i thought what the heck let's ask the experts or failing that you fellow MN'ers.

there is an identical but 3/4 size bass in the Cleveland Orch. but the owner has that attributed to Prescott Concord N.H. usa. I need to talk to him to see the appraisal details and who did that. The basses are carbon copies except for the size. The question could be of a student or worker with Prescott, the time frame is consistent.

The bass is unusual in that the belly is made from multi-staves of pine, each about 3 inches wide, I don't know if the staves where bent before be formed into the table, I'll have to look closely next time to see if it is possible, the bottom c-bout corners are rounded shapes, the f-holes are linked to the rest of the table with diamond shaped links at the top and bottom of the long portions before the holes, the bout edges are carved with a linear design all around the edge of the ribs, probably more details that I can't think of right now but the question really revolves around the mysterious Mr. j. B. Allen

Any help would be nice and appreciated, i am going to check with the Us Census data to see if he surfaces there.

Thanks, I be working on a very unusual Church Bass from the collection, photos and progress to follow.

Reese

Reese-

There was a violin dated 1896, by a Joseph Allen of Boston, MA, that sold for $3,335 in the May, 1998 Skinner auction.

If the date fits, perhaps a possibility?

[welshman]

date is about right, I'll forward that on, perhap she can track down some history on Joseph

Reese