Who's Henry Olson?

Subject: Who's Henry Olson? Fiddler and fiddle maker.
From: Mark Ross
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 01:00 PM

I posted this on the tread on Strads & Amati's, but Marion suggested that I would have better luck with a new thread.

I found a fiddle at the local flea market last year, the vendor said it was an Idaho fiddle. Bought if for $55, no bridge or soundpost, tailpiece, etc., a local luthier(David Gusset, he made Alisdair Fraser's instrument)traded me guitar lessons for the work, and folks, let me tell you, it's a great old-timey sounding fiddle.

The question is; who was Henry Olson? That's the name stamped inside, along with the date Feb. 5, 1935. Utah Phillips told me that when he used to go to the contest at Weiser every so often somebody would say, "Here's a Henry Olson tune." So he seemed to have a reputation. I've called the Idaho State Folklorist & Ethno-Proctologist, the folks who run the National Fiddle Championship,
Rosalie Sorrels, David Bromberg, Jay Ungar, etc., but I still haven't received an answer, can anyone out there in Mudcat Land help?

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Sorcha
Date: 13 Jul 04 - 02:21 PM

I found this from Dunn County, WI but I have no idea if it's what you are looking for.

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 02:10 PM

Sorcha, was there supposed to be a link? This guy was from Idaho, as near as I can tell.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 01:49 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Sorcha
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 03:17 PM

Yup. Sorry, forgot the paste. It was an obit....are you interested? If so, I'll go find it again....

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Steve Parkes
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 11:27 AM

Isn't he Superman's friend? Or am I thinking of somebody else?

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 01:04 PM

C'mon, that was his brother Jimmy!

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 02:05 PM

Mark, I have an idea. You say you got the fiddle in Idaho. How about contacting the Weiser National Fiddle contest people and ask them?

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Mark Ross
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 02:59 PM

Tried that, left a message, got no answer. A friend of mine went to the contest and couldn't find out anything either.

Mark Ross

Subject: RE: Who's Henry Olson?
From: Sorcha
Date: 16 Jul 04 - 03:01 PM

Oh