Milwaukee Journal Sentinel 1951.10.1
Chunks of spruce and maple are transformed into violins sought by artists throughout the world in a little workshop on Pickerel Lake northeast of Antigo. During the summer months of the past 27 years, Carl Becker Sr. of Chicago has been making violins of an original design, based upon the Stradivarius theory evolved in 1715. At the left, Carl Sr. is carving the scroll for a new violin. At the right, Becker’s son, Carl Jr., arches a violin top. The top is carved from spruce, the back from maple, all 20 or 30 year seasoned woods imported when possible from Mittenwald, Germany.
Carl Jr. and his father inspect the wood inlay on a violin which has had its base varnish coat. All the fine detail and the glowing patina of a Becker violin is achieved by hours of painstaking craftsmanship with tiny chisels, planers and scrapers.