Official Luthiers Forum!

Hello Friends on the OLF,
I am the widow of Ernie Kleinman who passed away in February of 2022. He was a passionate and long time member of the OLF!
I have requested permission to use the OLF Classifieds, so will soon be able to post ads to sell the contents of Ernie's estate consisting of mountains of tone woods, tools, parts, supplies for guitars, violins, ukuleles and other stringed instruments. There are also books, CD's and videotapes on all subjects related to instrument making.
Ernie left dozens of bodies in white, hundreds of rough carved necks, backs, tops, bridges, fingerboards, bindings and purflings. I have bags of button shellac, multiple hanks of horsehair, bowmaking parts, 2 big rolls of silver wire and violin hardware.
There is also a motorized dish sander with 2 tables and multiple sandpaper discs; router jigs of all kinds, and forms for all kinds of stringed instruments.
Over 100 planes are available including all varieties and sizes, many handmade by Ernie (you've seen his videos.) There are also brand names like Lie-Nielsen, Lee Valley, etc.
If you remember Ernie, he made ukuleles, guitars, was in process of making a bouzouki, a Weissenborn guitar, a uke harp, and was also skilled with restoration of violin family instruments and bow repairs/rehairs.

Thanks and looking forward to meeting some of you on the OLF.

Kindest regards,
Cathy Kleinman

Hi Cathy,

I'm sorry for your loss. I always enjoyed the discussions where Ernie contributed, which were very many.

I don't know if you've already acquired the needed help with pricing the items, but I think there are some OLF folks who live down your way. Perhaps someone could help with establishing the prices, if you need it. I think Mike O'Melia is down that way although maybe not so far west? In any case, if you need help just ask.

Thanks!
Brad

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Geography prevents me from helping directly, Cathy, but please know that I am very sorry for your loss and thankful for the contributions of Ernie.

Once the items are organized, I would be happy to look at buying some of the things that can be shipped. I'll watch the classifieds for the postings.

I and fumblefinger (Al Bacon) have been down there several times helping Cathy with the HOARD of stuff Ernie had. In fact, I was down there this morning urging Cathy on while she posted the top of the thread. Ernie left a gold mine of tonewoods, tool, fixtures, machinery, and parts of all kinds. Cathy will be posting photos soon I hope, and I can send you some if you like. Hesh has seen just a few of the photos and he was astounded! Ernie had enough to start a factory that would keep 5 craftsman busy.

If you drive down in person or have Cathy ship you some of Ernie's stuff, I don't think you'll be disappointed. If you want an idea of what's for sale, check YouTube for Ernie's channel.
Here's the link:
https://www.youtube.com/@18roselover

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Ernie was one of the good ones and is truly missed. I'm sorry for your loss. I hope his remaining inventory finds a happy home and I'm sure it will.

Hi Cathy this should be very productive I have always done well here on the OLF Classified.

A huge thanks to Fubblefinger (Al Bacon) and Chris Pyle for helping Cathy with this for many months now. That's how much stuff there is and Ernie liked good stuff too.

I've been on the OLF now about 18 years and from what I have seen this will by far be the biggest estate sale we have ever had and again with good stuff.

Ernie was a professional bow maker as well as a Luthier in general and he had very high levels of hand tool skills so look for lots of great hand tools as well.

He was also my friend and I miss him too.

Thanks

Ernie left hundred of books on guitar making and repair, as well as on violin making and history. Cathy showed me several dozen CD's of lessons and instructional info, a handful of video tapes, too. PM Cathy and she can tell you all about it.

Guys, I gotta tell you. Ernie was nothing but prolific. He didn't just make instruments and tools - he manufactured parts. He left tubes of purflings and bindings. He would generate rosettes for days, filling boxes. There are big boxes with rolls of holly veneers, and other species. Ernie bought in bulk for a factory, when he was a one man shop.

If you need ebony bridge blanks, there are hundreds. Fingerboards? Yes, too many. Vioiin and cello bridges, with many maple blanks of the highest quality. You need sticks of pernambuco for bow making? STACKS of them. The amount of raw materials Ernie left are staggering. Enough to fill a 60 by 30 workshop, a 3 car garage, and 2 bedrooms. You need tools? Ernie had them. Many he made himself, and he was no slouch (you've seen his YouTube vids). Japanese saws, planes, spokeshaves, draw knives, you name it. Need a side bender with the blankets? Check. Bending irons? Check.

Guys, it's going to take Cathy a long time to disperse the hoard of the dragon, as it were. Ernie believed in the OLF, and requested that members of this forum get first crack at his legacy, so dive in. Yesterday I bought all the machine heads I could find - Grover, Hipshot, Schaller. Ernie didn't buy crap.

I say again, Cathy, Fumblefinger, or I can give you specific info including photos. Do not hesitate to inquire, and when it comes time to head to Oklahoma or have Cathy box up stuff to mail you - cash talks (as long the gubmint lets us keep using it).

Don't wait. Many of the locals have already gotten some of the wealth. Ernie had 7 bandsaws, all set up for different jobs. All sold. You need routers? Routing jigs? A 36" thickness sander? Tool benches? It's go time, fellas.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I would be interested in bulk buys on bridge blanks and fingerboard blanks. Also, any back and sides sets. If images exist of these things I would be glad to see them.

I’m not opposed to a drive either.


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I would be very interested in the purflings, bindings, and veneers. Not local, so shipping will be necessary. It would be a 2 day drive for me, one way, and I just can't do that.

id be very interested in back and side sets, fingerboard blanks, and other assorted tone wood

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https://www.instagram.com/fostinoguitars/
https://www.facebook.com/PuraVidaUkuleles/

Let me see if I can post some photos, guys.

Here's the motorized dish sander, w/ tables. There are extra sanding discs, too.
https://i.imgur.com/VUEXfPj.jpg

You need bodies in white?
https://i.imgur.com/wPNZCGV.jpg

Just some of Ernie's planes...
https://i.imgur.com/K7wTpX4.jpg

These are just a couple of his forms...
https://i.imgur.com/llamfkQ.jpg

This is a fraction of the tonewood stash...
https://i.imgur.com/TY4Mrp4.jpg

Another view of some of the tonewood...
https://i.imgur.com/nlMxDCk.jpg

Need a router?
https://i.imgur.com/rLa3BCg.jpg

Fumblefinger and I took hundreds of photos... We made lists of the machinery, tools, etc. It's quite extensive. PM Cathy for more details.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Impressive. Makes a fella want to head to the airport…


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Okay, guys - more photos to whet your appetite.

This is about 2 percent of Ernie's clamps. Remember - he didn't just buy them - he built them.
https://i.imgur.com/F0ju9LP.jpg

Did I say tubes of purfling?
https://i.imgur.com/J5gHBKw.jpg

Need a form?
https://i.imgur.com/9IRnSnH.jpg

Some of his sets in his "dry room" where he assembled instruments.
https://i.imgur.com/h2RPgPW.jpg

No, the wood is not organized per species. Most of it is all in the same area though.
https://i.imgur.com/ZJeqd75.jpg

Ready for processing...
https://i.imgur.com/kvXlQDK.jpg

More bodies in white...
https://i.imgur.com/Zk4xf35.jpg

And yet more bodies in white - guitar, ukes, etc. in several sizes.
https://i.imgur.com/k3SW74q.jpg

Don't hurt your neck looking at these rough carved necks!
https://i.imgur.com/Axu6gMP.jpg

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

More random photos from Ernie's Kingdom. Have I mentioned that Ernie also built furniture?

36" Woodmaster thickness sander
https://i.imgur.com/Wv0Vp9e.jpeg

More views from his "dry room" where he assembled instruments
https://i.imgur.com/Wv0Vp9e.jpeg

Dry room again...
https://i.imgur.com/XwbAO5j.jpg

Lots of benches, and Japanese tools.
https://i.imgur.com/wPbktyk.jpg

More of the same...
https://i.imgur.com/r9U9SLn.jpg

Ernie kept wood scraps for parts, inlays, truss rod covers, rosettes, what have you.
https://i.imgur.com/oVReK6h.jpg

Ernie built this cabinet full of tools.
https://i.imgur.com/ZNY6vs3.jpg

Sidebender with multiple blankets.
https://i.imgur.com/D72TDLX.jpg

There are shelves and drawers full of planes...
https://i.imgur.com/zTTQsmj.jpg

Another view of Ernie's Kingdom
https://i.imgur.com/8DsP3V8.jpg

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Here's a few more images -
https://imgur.com/vDEIjza
https://imgur.com/FSjzQPG
https://imgur.com/45X1gWC
https://imgur.com/kvIvKmq
https://imgur.com/LFeiBkx
https://imgur.com/BqziZmY
https://imgur.com/AEYCgEy
https://imgur.com/Y7mvfyH
https://imgur.com/5DEUQ7y

Catherine is making deals right and left. If you have any desires on supplies or equipment, I'd encourage you to contact her and see if there is anything she has that you'd like.

Thanks to all of you folks on the OLF for your messages of interest and support! I am waiting to get approved to use the Classifieds but in the meantime feel free to PM me if you have an interest. I can ship items to you.

Kindest regards,
Cathy Kleinman

Cathy is doing her best to make everyone happy here, guys. She is NOT a professional luthier, nor a professional shipper, so please be patient. Let's just say for Cathy, her learning curve is pretty steep right now. She does aim to please.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

We have HUNDREDS of photos. What would you like to see?

Ernie left 3 go-bar decks...
https://i.imgur.com/T4qwpZq.jpg

I know I mentioned rosettes...
https://i.imgur.com/UqV4GMZ.jpg

Have we mentioned the nice Gianninni classical?
https://i.imgur.com/PyhDQEx.jpg

Boxes full of veneer rolls...
https://i.imgur.com/raodMUP.jpg

Ask Cathy about the violin projects...

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Cathy, sorry for your loss. Ernie was well loved and appreciated.

I too would be interested in tone wood sets, finger boards, peghead blanks, bridge blanks. If you have a list, you can PM me and I'll get you an email address.

Thanks

Bump for the weekenders.

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

Okay, by now some of you OLF guys have gotten your goodies from Cathy.
Care to share any comments on the great deals you got?

_________________
"Act your age, not your shoe size" - Prince

I got the fretboards and bridge blanks today and I’m very happy with them.

My wife and I then spent some time watching videos of Ernie on YouTube. Learned about welsh stick chairs, wooden planes and got to watch Ernie play the fiddle and an 8 string pineapple uke.


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I received my ebony fretboards, bridge blanks, and some miscellaneous ebony boards
All of it was high-grade material at a very fair price.
I am very happy with the purchase.
Cathy was a pleasure to deal with and made sure I was satisfied with follow up emails.


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I received my order yesterday, also. Nice wood for sure, but the purfling was exceptional. I can't thank Cathy enough for sharing Ernie's gems with us.

Ditto what the others said—bridges, fretboards and a few neck blanks are great finds and working with Cathy was great! Thanks Cathy!