Anyone know of PA violin maker "Frank T. Cypher"?

[kevin Prestwich]

Hello everyone. I have two violins by Butler, PA violin maker "Frank T. Cypher" and I am unable to locate any information on this maker. From a patent application I know that he was working in the 50's. That's all I got. Thanks!

[Christopher Jacoby]

The 50's were ripe for the idea of the 'cypher'. Maybe Alan Turing was producing violins in PA...

[Richf]

Well, it would appear that he is a real person.  The first item in google (after this thread) is his application with the US Patent Office for a modifcaiton to the violin bow (  http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2552408.pdf ) and the US Census has him indeed living in Butler in 1930.  Sorry, that's the best I can do.  He doesn't show up in Wenberg.

 

Richard

[kevin Prestwich]

Thanks for looking Richard. That's about as far as I got as well. These fiddles aren't too bad which would leed me to assume that he may have made a few...hmmm. Hey, that's quite the invention though! thanks for the link.

[Dian]

Just saw your post while I was looking up things in my family tree. Frank was my great great uncle. The only information I have is that he and his brothers used to play at dances in the Great Belt area of Butler county. He played 5 instruments and built many violins and mandolins. In later years he repaired instruments at Trader’s Music Store in Butler