The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-06-17
VIOLIN
MAKER
In SALEM
Famous Instruments
Being Made These
Days
Skillful Artist In This Line
In Our Midst Makes Only
the StradivlriuS
Kind

Salem now has in its midst rare
mechanic. an artisan--ln reality an
artist in his line, in the person Of J.
L. Coates. the violin maker and re-
pairer This an occupation that is
not followed to any extent these days.
but It is for that reason all the more
interesting. We hear a great deal
about the old masters, whose vlolins
now sell at fabulous prices, but in
this work like everything else modern
progress is being applied.
Mr.. Coates is originally from Chi.
cago, but with his wife. who is in
poor health. Is travelling about the
West looking for relief and he at the
same time follows his calling. He
says there is plenty to do everywhere
and is busy all the time. either re.
pairing, rebuilding or making new
viollns. He Is devoted to his work,
and his instruments are being classed
among the best turned out at the
present time He makes no instru.
ment under 800. and some that he
has made could not be bought today
for $1,000
Mr.. Coates says there are few first
class makers in this country now,
and that there are now being as
good instruments made as were ever
turned out. Even the famous Stradl
varlus are being excelled In some re
spects and II would not be surprising
II the present century puts into the
shade all the old masters in this line
of work.
Among other things Mr. Coates
makes speciality OF re-graduating
old yiollns. and by this process. which
is that OF taking apart and finishing
the inside. he makes some flrstclass
instruments even out OF machine
made fddles. He has all manner OF
tools for testing the wood. callipers
for taking the thickness OF all parts
OF a violin. and all manner OF contriv.
ances and tools for shaving, polishing
and fitting the delicate pieces Of
, wood, all Of which is necessary 10
produce perfect instrument He
can take an old instrument apart and
by going over the different parts give
Il an entirely new tone.
Mr. Coates has work sent him from
all parts OF the United Staates, and
carries with him materials and wood
OF all kinds pertaining 10 his busi.
ness. He has some violin backs with
him cut from hard maple slabs nearly
so years old. Some OF these backs are
a solid piece. but most OF them are
glued In the center. He has some Of
these pieces that seem as hard as
flint which he has carried with him
over twenty years, and although they
contain less than two feet Of rough
lumber. he values them at not less
than ten dollars. The fronts OF all
viollns are made OF spruce. and Mr..
Coates considers the Oregon grown
spruce as fine as there Is In the world,
although our maple is too soft for the
backs.
Any person interested in the man
ufacture OF yiolins or who takes a gen
eral interest in a rare mechanic, a
man who devotes his whole existence
20 his work-who works for the
works sake--ought 10 call at Prof
Coates workshop up stairs in the
Murphy block. He will be here sever
al months. and makes II very inter
esting for callers. An Olympia paper
where Mr.. Coates was before coming
10 Oregon, has the following item Of
interest concerning his movements:
~. l.. Coates. the well-known violin
maker will leave today for Salem
where he viii make his home for a
year or so az least Salem Offers a
better feld for his handiwork. al
though as a place OF residence Sir.
Coates believes he prefers Olympia
AS a violin maker Mr. Coates name
is not confined 10 this section and
some OF his best instruments are IN
the hands of famous yiolinists. He
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