Inventor

 

Inventor. 2010. Framed: 31" x 25". Xylene photo transfer on tea-stained muslin. Stitched words: Saw a need; Solved a problem; Got a patent; Pegheds Inc., For Better Cello Tuning.  Framed: 31" x 25". Xylene photo transfer on tea-stained muslin. Click on image to enlarge.

The word “genius” is defined as (The Free Dictionary, online):

gen·ius (jēn΄yәs)

1.a. Extraordinary intellectual and creative power.

1.b.  A person of extraordinary intellect and talent “One is not born a genius, one becomes a genius” (Simone de Beauvior).

1.c.  A person who has an exceptionally high intelligence quotient, typically above 140.

No matter how one defines it, my former neighbor Chuck Herin is most assuredly a genius. I don't tend to use the word frequently or lightly. I reserved it for very special people with truly extraordinary intellect, talent, work ethic to maximize their potential, and an IQ that is easily in Mensa territory. Again, Chuck is a genius.

Chuck graduated (Magna Cum Laude) with a major in visual arts and minors in math and physics. He's played the cello professionally since before he went to college. If he ever held a "regular" job, I don't know about it. Chuck has always worked for himself....in free lance music, in restoration of historic buildings (doing all the work himself....including the building in which I currently live and work), and in "fixing" things as a profitable hobby (currently rebuilding mini-coopers and other cars but generally as a stringed instrument expert). Chuck used to be my next door neighbor. He has lived in three of the five houses on my block....fixing each one and moving next door. He built our garage from scratch. He built a garage next door...where he invented Pegheds (http://pegheds.com/index.htm.) and started manufacturing them.

What's a Peghed? It looks just like the wooden pegs on any other cello but includes a 4:1 gear reduction that makes tuning easier, more precise, and accurate even in the hands of novice players. Once invented and patented, Chuck started manufacturing them in his garage...until he out grew the location. Since then, Chuck bought and totally renovated a formerly empty and long neglected high school outside Winnsboro, South Carolina. It is the headquarters for Pegheds, Inc. Chuck has created all the machinery to make Pedheds and personally distributes them across the globe.

There's a Peghed for cellos but also for viola, ukuleles, and Flamenco guitars! Chuck could have simply invented this device for himself but he decided to share it with the rest of the world.... and many stringed instrument players are really happy about his decision!