Nelson Ellsworth Blatchley's Shop
3440 Pasadena Avenue
Lincoln Heights, Los Angeles, California

Nelson Blatchley's workshop, circa 1930.
A portion of Nelson E. Blatchley's workshop, located at 3440 Pasadena Avenue, Los Angeles, California, circa 1930. The elderly Nelson Blatchley, shown wearing a hat, at right, was not only an accomplished musician, but a jack-of-all-trades, something common at the time for mechanically adept people. The man standing at left was a good friend, Robert Kaylor. Notice the automobile key making blanks hanging on the cupboard at upper left, the dangling light sockets with an adapter for attaching an electric cord connected to some kind of electrical appliance, wooden workbenches, furniture and chairs stacked here and there, the un-vented gas heater at center and the general clutter reminiscent of such repair shops of the day.

1924 newspaper article about Nelson Blatchley holding a key from a Honduras jail.
Nelson E. Blatchley in his shop (at far right), circa 1924, holding a
key from the door of a Honduras jail from which he had rescued
a good friend many years earlier. Nelson must have been a
courageous individual, and all around man of many talents.

The Violin Made by Nelson E. Blatchley for Doris Vincent
Violin made by Nelson Blatchley for his granddaughter, Doris Vincent, circa 1934.
This violin was made by Nelson Blatchley for his granddaughter, Doris Vincent. It was presented to her on her 10th birthday, October 6, 1935.		 Label inside a violin made by Nelson Blatchley, circa 1934.
Label inside the violin made for Doris Vincent by Nelson Blatchley, and for presentation on his granddaughter's 10th birthday. The paper label, only partially visible in this photograph, reads, "N. E. Blatchley --  1934." It is unknown exactly when construction of this violin began, or when it was completed. Nelson Blatchley had a severe stroke in late 1934, and was hospitalized on September 13, 1935. Doris Vincent's 10th birthday was on October 6, 1935, nearly one month after her grandfather was hospitalized . Nelson Blatchley remained in the hospital until he passed away in November of 1936.

This prized family heirloom is still held within the family, and is now in the possession of Janet (Thomas) Haralson, daughter of Doris (Vincent) Thomas and the great granddaughter of Nelson Blatchley.
Doris Vincent happily carrying her violin to class, Franklin High School, circa 1941.
Doris Vincent in 1941, during the start of her Freshman year at Franklin High School. Here she is carrying the violin made by her grandfather, which she played with the high school's Senior Orchestra, as well as the All City Orchestra at the Shrine Auditorium, Los Angeles, California.		 Portrait of Doris Vincent taken during practice for the Glendale Community Orchestra, circa 1943.
This 1943 picture of Doris Vincent was snapped during practice for the Glendale Community Orchestra, which was led by Dr. Siegfreid Sharbough from Occidental College. Doris was still in High School at the time, but she performed with the college students as well as with the high school orchestra and the All-City Orchestra, an attestation to her superb musical skills.

The violin she is holding in the picture is one that her father, Herbert Vincent, bought her from a local music dealer in Los Angeles. The violin had a different tone than the one her grandfather had made for her and so she would trade off between the two instruments depending upon her mood and temperament.

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