Eugene Clark contact

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Njål Bendixen

Posts: 65
Joined: Aug. 25 2016

Eugene Clark contact

Does anyone know how to contact Eugene Clark, American guitar maker. I wish to correspond with him regarding an article he wrote in American Lutherie N92. about traditional measurement systems used by Spanish guitar makers. I have not found a website or email address. Is he still around?

Njaal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 26 2016 8:30:05

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Eugene Clark contact (in reply to Njål Bendixen)

I can see if he is answering email and pass is address if so.

I'm one of his students and he and I talked a lot about this stuff. If I can answer a question about how he talks about it I will try. He and I were talking a lot about it when he wrote that article.

You'll find many people who will disagree with his ideas. One of the things he really is interested in is the idea of mensuration, or the early regulation of measurement based on the proportions of the human body.

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2016 2:21:28

Tom Blackshear

Posts: 2304
Joined: Apr. 15 2008

RE: Eugene Clark contact (in reply to Njål Bendixen)

The last e-mail I have for Eugene is:

eldeberkeley@yahoo.com

Phone: 253-548-8376

_____________________________

Tom Blackshear Guitar maker

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2016 14:58:48

Njål Bendixen

Posts: 65
Joined: Aug. 25 2016

RE: Eugene Clark contact (in reply to Njål Bendixen)

Hi Estebanana

Thank you for your willingness to pass on Eugene Clarks ideas. Here are my questions.

Did Spanish guitar makers of the past use the same measurement systems as in other crafts, such as joinery and carpentry?

When was a uniform standard of measurements first introduced in Spain? If we go far enough back then each province would have had its own standard of measurements. It is important to distinguish between the introduction of a nation wide standard of measurements and the eventual adoption of such standard by people in the crafts. As an example I can say that the metric system was officially introduced in Denmark in 1907. However my father was apprentice in the royal naval shipyards (making wooden boats) in the 1950s and they were still using inches then.

In Spain the metric system was introduced already in 1849, but I am sure that guitar makers continued to use the previous system long after that.

In the article Eugene Clark claims that Spanish guitar makers would have used the pied du roi, which is 324.8mm. Do you, or does Eugene Clark have any proof of this? And within what time period did they use this pied du roi?

Saludos,

Njaal

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 27 2016 15:36:23

estebanana

Posts: 9351
Joined: Oct. 16 2009

RE: Eugene Clark contact (in reply to Njål Bendixen)

It looks like Tom published Gene's private number and email right up front so you may as well call him and ask your question. I'd stock up on Skype minutes and call via Skype to his private number other wise prepare for a long and expensive trans Atlantic phone call.

The New Yorker Magazine has an editorial fact checking office that is world famous for tenaciousness in fact proofing the manuscripts of writers who contribute essays to the magazine. If only every magazine had such exacting standards. There is a lot of murky water covering the actual history of the early Spanish guitar makers of Torres' vintage, not because scholarship is lacking, but because facts and primary sources are few. So the research by comparison model has arisen to answer many of the questions about guitar making practice, and measurement is one of the things that can be elucidated by comparison to the furniture and carpentry crafts by virtue that all three forms of work involve basically the same wood working tools.

I'll reserve comment as I've never read the 2007 essay that Clark wrote for the GAL publication. It was ten years prior to the essay that I was with him as a student, although we did talk extensively about these ideas. I think the ideas and time lines you frame out are correct; the metric system was introduced to Spain mid 19th century, but it mainly effected industry that was traded internationally, like textile manufacture in Barcelona. The South of Spain and remote non urban regions were slower to standardize and much of Spain did not come into full compliance with the metric system until well into the 20th century.

It's accepted among those who are studied in this topic, the tool kits of 19th century Spanish builders, that the best tools were coming from England and reaching Spain though the southern ports were there was a long established trade in tools, orange marmalade, wool and other goods between England and ports such as Valencia. The English inch demarcated on the rulers and tool designs of the English brands were considered very fine quality and sought after by the fine craftsmen of Spain, the "ebony workers." As for were Eugene dug up the reference to the Pied du Roi, either I have forgotten that a long time ago or he had not cooked up that idea when we were knee deep in measurement talk. I suggest contacting either Clark of the New Yorker Magazine Office of Fact Checking. Please forward ant tidbits of information concerning the whereabouts of the kings foot. It may in fact be lodged in the kings mouth.

The three living sources I have found to be the most knowledgeable on this subject of toolage of the 19th century guitarreros etc are Jose Romanillos book on Torres, Eugene Clark, and R.E. Brune' respectively. I don't know Romanillos personally, but I have read his book very critically and carefully. The reading of that book and Clark's rundown of the solera method area pretty good grounding in that way of working and would thus inform the reader on which tools were needed for a 19th century guitar maker. But here is where it gets complicated, because neither Romanillos nor Eugene, as much as I owe a great debt to his teaching, tell the full story. There's more and R.E. Brune' has more information to add, which points to Spanish builders' practices that indicate more variation in working methods between builders. I hope Brune' writes more, but his contributions to Vintage Guitar magazine have much value in terms of fleshing out more Spanish builders history.

However if a kings foot is lost to history, or it's a false story, not to worry. remember what Beethoven said about kings. "There are many kings, but only one Beethoven. "

_____________________________

https://www.stephenfaulkguitars.com

REPORT THIS POST AS INAPPROPRIATE | Date Aug. 28 2016 12:42:44