VIDEO & PHOTOS: Jim Morris Re-Creates Historic Fiddle from Just a Photo

Several months ago, I posted this photo from the 1890's in a Cigar Box Nation email with the challenge for somebody to make a similar instrument.  The young man in the photo was from Savannah, GA and is playing a crude violin.

Jim Morris of Springfield, WV immediately took the challenge.  Morris, a fantastic old time guitarist and fiddle player, has been featured in previous Cigar Box Nation features, including Gus Cannon's Frying Pan Banjo (article link).  I must first mention that the photo posted in the original email was a lot smaller than the cleaned up version above.  

Here is his version along with builder's comments.  Great work, Jim!!!

Fiddle copied from Shane's pictureA lot of guesswork went into this one. Decided it needed a homemade twig bow too.

Fiddle copied from Shane's picture

It looked like a 3 stringer from the pic.

Fiddle copied from Shane's picture

Most of the details were hard to make out in the pic but I didn't see a fingerboard so I went without one.

Fiddle copied from Shane's picture

Fiddle copied from Shane's picture

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Permalink Reply by Greg Tiffany on May 21, 2018 at 2:15pm

Wow very well done.

Permalink Reply by Korrigan on May 21, 2018 at 11:23pm

That's awesome, nice work Jim!

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 3:58am

Thanks Korrigan

Permalink Reply by QGolden on May 22, 2018 at 1:27am
Wow! Very inspiring work Kim!
Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 3:58am

Thanks Q

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 2:32am

Thanks Shane for putting this on the page. And thanks for posting the larger, cleaned up photo since I can now make out what appears to be a carrying bag complete with a side pouch for the bow on the ground at the musician's left foot. Now I gotta make one of those too!

Permalink Reply by Bob Wurster on May 22, 2018 at 3:25am
Jim, you keep outdoing yourself. Very cool.
Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 3:57am

Thanks Bob. I had fun with this one!

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 5:57am

Thanks Poopshoe. I think Shane deserves a ton of credit for his research and bringing these things to our attention. I'm pretty sure I'd never have made this , or several other instruments, if he hadn't posted pictures or other info about these old homemade things.

Permalink Reply by Milt Haselmire on May 22, 2018 at 5:18am

Takes a lot to impress me at my age but I'm impressed.

Permalink Reply by Jim Morris on May 22, 2018 at 5:57am

Thanks a bunch Milt.

Permalink Reply by Larry Chapman on May 22, 2018 at 5:36am

You've done a lot of great things but this might be the best! Thanks. 

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