Russell L. Coe Violin 1980

            Russell L. Coe was a violin maker who worked in Albion, Indiana in the 1980s.  He died in 2001.  Mr. Coe made 163 violins and several violas and cellos.  He made this violin, his 60th instrument, in 1980--it was commissioned by a university professor in Baton Rouge.  Russell Coe is listed, on page 52, in Thomas James Wenberg's The Violin Makers of the United States, published in 1986. 
            The instrument has a warm chocolate-like brown varnish.  The two piece spruce top has fine even grain with some widening of the grain at the periphery of the violin.  The two piece back and ribs are of evenly flamed maple.  The maple in the neck has slightly wider flames.  The purfling and sinking, of the top and back edges, are beautifully executed. 
            The violin is in excellent condition.  The tone is of solo quality, with very good projection and clarity of voice.  

            In 2019 the instrument was sold to Scott Waller of Tyler, Texas.