Australian luthier John Godschall Johnson (1912-2003) was widely known for his public outreach, his research into and adherence to traditional methods of violin-making, and his insistence on giving his violins, violas, and cellos away rather than selling them. He inscribed the letters "TIMBFG NBOS" inside his instruments, meaning "This Instrument May Be Freely Given, Never Bought Or Sold", removing all monetary value from these objects at their very inception. A committed member of the Communist Party of Australia for most of his life, he was also involved in movements for decolonisation in the mid-twentieth century. Late in life made a string quartet that he named in honour of Jessie Street (1889-1970), an activist for women¿s rights and Indigenous rights. This paper explores aspects of Johnson¿s life and work, and considers how his praxis underpinned his craft.