SMG Posted March 7, 2024 Report Posted March 7, 2024 Hi there, I am wondering if anyone has come across violins made by my Great Uncle Napoleon "Paul" Rivest who was from the U.P. and lived in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, which is where he made violins. I've always known that he built violins and there are two left in my family but am curious if there are more surviving. He also mentions in this article I've attached here that his grandpere Noel Rousseau aka Christmas Brooks also made violins which would have been in the late 1800's in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan- Negaunee, Ishpeming areas. Noel was likely a wood chopper at the Tilden Mine approx. 1880-1895. The violinmaking is news to me as he is mostly regarded as a lumberjack and a drunk in family lore. But anything is possible, I guess. Eager to hear more as we have young violinists in the family now.
frizz Posted March 7, 2024 Report Posted March 7, 2024 I have worked for 4 1/2 decades in Northeastern Wisconsin and have never come across a violin by Paul Rivest.
Ron1 Posted March 8, 2024 Report Posted March 8, 2024 I visited Jim Van Lanen a number of years ago in Two Rivers to see and photograph his 1923 Reindahl violin. He also showed me other violins he had, but I don't remember who the makers were.
Matthew_Graesch Posted March 10, 2024 Report Posted March 10, 2024 That picture looks as if at least one of the fiddles has a darker back and sides....walnut maybe?
SMG Posted March 11, 2024 Author Report Posted March 11, 2024 On 3/10/2024 at 10:34 AM, Matthew_Graesch said: That picture looks as if at least one of the fiddles has a darker back and sides....walnut maybe? He worked in at least two shipbuilding factories and I think he got most of his materials from these sources so I'll be interested to see what he used too. My grandma is working on getting me one of the remaining violins. I'll share pictures when I have it.
Matthew_Graesch Posted March 12, 2024 Report Posted March 12, 2024 19 hours ago, SMG said: He worked in at least two shipbuilding factories and I think he got most of his materials from these sources so I'll be interested to see what he used too. My grandma is working on getting me one of the remaining violins. I'll share pictures when I have it. I'll be interested to see what you find out. I really enjoy learning about these regional/autodidact makers.
SMG Posted July 1, 2024 Author Report Posted July 1, 2024 (edited) Here are a few photos of Paul's violin. He wrote his name "Paul Rivet" and the year 1989 on the inside. Can't quite get a good photo of that. Edited July 1, 2024 by SMG
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