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  This is the 7' board I picked out. It is lightly flamed (but the best available at the warehouse) but I think the grain will come out handsome when finished.
  I cut it up into back sized lengths and waxed the ends of the wood (to ensure no cracking). These will make one piece backs.
   In this photo, some of the flame and grain is visible.
   Here is wood for five violins, just waiting to be used. It could be the foundation for your next great violin. Please contact me if you think you might be interested to commission a violin.
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Submerged Michigan Maple
...Back in the later half of the 19th century (1850 to 1900), much of the old growth hardwood forests in southern Michigan (USA) were harvested. In those days, the wood was transported by water and in the process, some of the tree logs sunk to the bottom of lakes and rivers.
...Recently, underwater diving has permitted some of this wood to be recovered, dried, and sawn into lumber; such as this piece of Maple that I selected at "Timeless Timber" lumber recovery in Ashland, Wisconsin.
...A number of writers have pointed out that being underwater for a long period of time (cold deep water) seems to change the wood in such a manner as to improve the acoustical properties.
...Mark Powers, the retail lumber manager at Timeless Timber, told me that he estimated this wood to have been submerged for about 100 years. He had a violin on display that he had made from his recovered wood and he let me play it. I had the impression of a definite tone difference; honest and rich.
...This wood is available for immediate use and should make five one-piece Maple violin backs (with matching neck wood and ribs).
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Click here to visit the Timeless Timber Co. web site....
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Click here for a scientific look at possible tone advantages to long submerged wood.
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...Timber harvest as it used to be in America in the 1800's...
...Electron microscope views of wood fibers looking at the end-grain.
Page vw-3 (modified 12/2020)