Dudley B. REED

REED, Dudley B. Born circa. 1900 Palmer, Ohio, died 1974 Gainesville, Florida USA. Part-time violin maker active from 1922. Pupil of Carl Hildebrand. Various occupations: baker, farmer, and pilot. Retired in 1953, after which he concentrated on instruments, working in Gainesville until 1971. Over 500 produced, a good proportion of which were prefabricated and only finished by him; labelled and sold as student grade. Stradivari model violins and Tertis viola pattern. Fine materials and dark red-brown spirit varnish. [Wenberg]