Three Craftsmen

by H.E. Huttig

previously published in Guild of American Luthiers Quarterly 10 #3, 1982

See also,
“The Guitar & I” by H.E. Huttig
“Woes of a Wood Merchant” by H.E. Huttig



Just returned from a trip from Miami to Williamsburg, and return with visits to three fine craftsmen. First we visited Allen Chester in Jacksonville. Allen says he was inspired by an early article of mine to start building classic and flamenco guitars. The demand for electrics was much greater, so he changed over and now specializes in them. He is a builder and repairman for quite a few professional groups and is highly esteemed for his work on their instruments. He had tee shirts made up with his logo, and one of the groups wore them when their picture was taken for an album cover. Allen says that he has the luck to be in the right place at the right time. What he doesn’t say is that he has the talent to take advantage of opportunities and the abilities to back up his participation.

Allen is multi-talented and experienced in all sorts of mechanical and machine work. He belongs to a sail plane club; not only flied but also builds the sophisticated and super light glider aircraft. He made a rosewood belt buckle with a mother of pearl inlay in the design of a sail plane. It was a gift for a friend, but now he has orders for the belt buckles. He lives in a comfortable house on which he has put additions and restorations. At least half of the building houses his well-stocked workshop.