Benjamin Foss Violin – Portland, Maine circa 1915-1930

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Bears the labels:

Benjamin Foss was a native-born Maine violinmaker from the early part of the 20th century. He started his working life as a saw sharpener and a millwright, later making compass parts and inventing the “Yankee” rachet screwdriver. As an amateur violinmaker he made more than 100 over the course of his making career and won the Maine makers competition one year.

This violin is representative of Benjamin’s work. His violins followed a Strad pattern that he modified for his own model. He is known for his thin dark varnish, and he crafted his instruments from domestic woods.