Carleen Maley Hutchins

John Dilworth

HUTCHINS, Carleen Maley Born 1911 Springfield, Massachusetts, d.2009 Monclair, New Jersey USA. Academic scientist and violin maker. Initially self-taught; later received guidance from Karl Berger and Simone Sacconi from 1947. Established in Montclair, New Jersey. Worked with Frederick Saunders from 1950 in acoustical research. Founded the Catgut Acoustical Society in 1963. Designed, with assistance from John Schelling, the ‘new violin family’: a set of eight instruments in graded sizes to provide an evenly balanced tonal range across the traditional violin quartet, eliminating perceived problems in viola and cello voices. Explored ‘tap-tone’ plate tuning and various other methods of manipulating tonal response. Made over 300 instruments, many experimental, largely based on a Gasparo da Salò model. Published a great deal of material about her research. Awarded silver medal by the Acoustical Society of America. Carleen Hutchins / Sus M No. / C H / Montclair, N.J. 19..