Condax, Louis M. - Correspondence: Miscellaneous C7450-101 - Condax, Louis M. (Series 1. Catgut Acoustical Society Collection, 1958)
A research chemist whose early work was with Frederick Ives who developed the dye transfer process for color printing. Louis subsequently went with Eastman Kodak and helped them apply the process to their color film. He was also a skilled violin maker and became deeply involved in researching the early violin varnishes. He received a grant from the Mellon Foundation and went to Europe to investigate evidences of the different varnishes used by the seventeenth and eighteenth century makers, particularly in Northern Italy. The Condax notebooks are in the CAS file and contain a wealth of information which has been researched by David Fix. Fix indicates that Condax developed many different varnish formulas, however, Fix has not as yet published his findings (1992). The file includes not only Louis' notebooks but also correspondence and a copy of his report to the Mellon Foundation. J. Michelman was highly critical of this work since it challenged Michelman's claim to having discovered the "secret" of the old Italian varnish. Louis was a long time member of the CAS and published a number of articles in the CASNL. Condax worked at Rembert Wurlitzer Co. in NYC with S.F. Sacconi on various varnish problems and treatment of violin wood, particularly the ammonia gas method of seasoning the wood before varnishing. Louis and his wife Constance often stopped by Montclair for a visit to discuss violin making and varnishing. When Louis died, Connie gave his files to CMH for the CAS files.
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