Mike Molnar

[Don Noon]

1 hour ago, MikeC said:

There should be a memorial violin build.  

I could contribute a wood kit:  top, back, ribs, neck, fingerboard, and bridge... all from Mike, and all torrefied by me.  I can also complete the kit with torrefied material for the bass bar, endblocks, and cornerblocks.  Nut and saddle too from Mike.  The only things missing would be purfling, linings and fittings.

[joerobson]

1 hour ago, Don Noon said:

I could contribute a wood kit:  top, back, ribs, neck, fingerboard, and bridge... all from Mike, and all torrefied by me.  I can also complete the kit with torrefied material for the bass bar, endblocks, and cornerblocks.  Nut and saddle too from Mike.  The only things missing would be purfling, linings and fittings.

I will do the ground and varnishing.

on we go

Joe

[Dwight Brown]

I can supply the case.

 

DLB

[MikeC]

4 minutes ago, joerobson said:

I will do the ground and varnishing.

on we go

Joe

I would suggest using Mike's anato ground but he didn't reveal details of it.   

[Ron1]

I'll miss Mike too.  I spoke with him once regarding his astronomical/astrological work and findings regarding the star of Bethlehem, etc.  Some members who may not be aware of this side of Mike's life would find it quite interesting.

R.I.P. Mike.

[joerobson]

2 hours ago, MikeC said:

I would suggest using Mike's anato ground but he didn't reveal details of it.   

We have discussed this many times.

on we go,

Joe

[David Burgess]

7 hours ago, Ron1 said:

I'll miss Mike too.  I spoke with him once regarding his astronomical/astrological work and findings regarding the star of Bethlehem, etc.  Some members who may not be aware of this side of Mike's life would find it quite interesting.

This is the book he wrote about it:
https://www.amazon.com/Star-Bethlehem-Legacy-Magi/dp/0813564719

More on his research into this:
https://wisconsinlife.org/story/the-astronomy-behind-the-fabled-star-of-bethlehem/

Interestingly though, considering the focus of this research, he was not a Christian.

[Anders Buen]

I´m sorry to read this!

He was a wise and smart contributor. Wrote intereting literature on different topics. A nice man too. 

[GoPractice]

8 hours ago, Anders Buen said:

I´m sorry to read this!

He was a wise and smart contributor. Wrote interesting literature on different topics. A nice man too. 

His posting will be missed. The reasoning was most helpful. Thank you Maestro Molnar for the efforts and contributions.

[JacksonMaberry]

Few "amateur" (and I use that word without a hint of the negative connotations it unfairly carries) makers I have met have contributed as much as cheerfully as Dr. Molnar. I was grateful to call him a friend. I can't organize it, but I'd be happy to arch the plates should a memorial project materialize. 

[Christopher Jacoby]

Oh, shit! Mike was a truly nice guy. I will miss trading propolis samples with him.

[Bill Yacey]

I'm very sad to hear this news. Mike and I discussed many things via email, and was a wonderful, sharing  person. I would like to extend my condolences to his family.

Rest peacefully, my friend.

[Julian Cossmann Cooke]

I learned of Mike's passing only this morning via the obituary his wife, Shelley, shared with The VSA for distribution to the membership.  While I can't date our meeting with any precision, I suspect Mike and I first bonded over varnish.  Probably in our first conversation we discovered that Mike was an undergrad student of my father in Bucknell's religion department, as I think I have mentioned here before.

The story goes that dad tried - without success as we all know - to convince Mike to pursue religious studies.  Had Mike listened, we might not have his insights on varnish and on the Star of Bethlehem today.  And few if any of us perhaps would have met him.

I will miss our gentlemanly varnish discussions - Mike was, among so many other things, a real gentleman - and VSA convention dinners and periodic phone check-ins.

My condolences to the universe of Mike's MN friends.

[Nick Allen]

On 2/8/2023 at 5:26 PM, MikeC said:

There should be a memorial violin build.  

I'll throw my hat in the ring. 

[donbarzino]

As I recall, Mike was in the middle of trying to complete a batch of violins made with CNC.

I would imagine he would rather see those instruments finished than a new

memorial violin built in his name.

[Don Noon]

I know that a lot of stuff was donated to VSA; I'm not sure if the in-process violin was part of that.  I have emailed Shelley to find out.  Even if VSA has it, presumably there would be some interest in getting it out and completed.

If not, my offer still stands to supply all of the wood for the project.

[joerobson]

1 hour ago, Don Noon said:

I know that a lot of stuff was donated to VSA; I'm not sure if the in-process violin was part of that.  I have emailed Shelley to find out.  Even if VSA has it, presumably there would be some interest in getting it out and completed.

If not, my offere still stands to supply all of the wood for the project.

I am in for ground and varnishing.

I suggest the proceeds of the sale establish a fund for maestronet members to attend Joe Thrift's violin making workshop.

We need someone...not me...to do central coordination.

on we go,

Joe

[MikeC]

I wish there were something I could do but you are all much more skilled than I am.   I'll cheer on from the sidelines.  

[Don Noon]

Here are the parts that Shelley still has.  Looks like 2 PG garlands and a pile of back plates in various states of completion.  If anyone wants to begin the process of putting this together, let me know or contact Shelley directly.  Mike had nearly completed his last violin, but it is being kept in the family.  Unfortunately I can't justify putting off my clients to work on this... and the bum shoulder is limiting what I can do anyway.  I can add a neck block, torrefied top wood, and fingerboard to the effort.

 

[joerobson]

9 hours ago, Don Noon said:

Here are the parts that Shelley still has.  Looks like 2 PG garlands and a pile of back plates in various states of completion.  If anyone wants to begin the process of putting this together, let me know or contact Shelley directly.  Mike had nearly completed his last violin, but it is being kept in the family.  Unfortunately I can't justify putting off my clients to work on this... and the bum shoulder is limiting what I can do anyway.  I can add a neck block, torrefied top wood, and fingerboard to the effort.

 

Great Don.  That's a start.

[joerobson]

9 hours ago, joerobson said:

Great Don.  That's a start.

Any volunteers to organize and keep this project on track?

on we go,

Joe

[Nick Allen]

I'll finish one of them. Graduate and pop a scroll on. 

[David Burgess]

Mike's obituary:

https://www.legacy.com/us/obituaries/legacyremembers/michael-molnar-obituary?id=48426911

[joerobson]

16 hours ago, Nick Allen said:

I'll finish one of them. Graduate and pop a scroll on. 

I'm making a list...thanks Nick!

[joerobson]

OK...I will organize this project.

If you want to be part, let me know.

PM me or email order@violinvarnish.com.

on we go

Joe