Benjamin King violin No. 6, 1938, Phoenix | Metzler Violins

Benjamin F. King was an American violin maker. He was a professional violinist and violin teacher in San Jose, CA and later Phoenix, AZ. He also organized and conducted a symphony orchestra in Phoenix.

Later, King moved to Banning, CA where he started repairing his students' instruments. In Banning, he began making instruments and was self-taught. King used a Strad model and his own oil varnish. His early instruments were made of European wood, but later he switched to using American wood. He made about 35 violins and 6 violas and died before 1970.