Help identifying an old Violin

pmajka · 07-06-2006, 05:05 AM

I found an old violin, between the ceiling and roof of an old house...If fact, the only way it got there was placed and built the ceiling around it.

It looks like it needs some work...

there is a name in side
Antonius Stradasomething or other..

Highlander179 · 07-06-2006, 05:58 AM

I'd use it for firewood.

Tishabet · 07-06-2006, 06:11 AM

Most old violins will have a tag in the body under the F-hole, don't get worked up if it says strad, that just means the body style is based on one of the "real" ones.
What type of work does it need? If you think there might be any value at all in it, don't try to do any of the work yourself: take it to a legitimate luthier.

Joeaksa · 07-06-2006, 07:05 AM

Pictures, we need pictures!

pwd72s · 07-06-2006, 07:48 AM

Saw this on antiques roadshow once...literally thousands of fake strads were made back in the1930's or thereabouts. Still, might be worth checking out, you never know...

Tim Hancock · 07-06-2006, 08:05 AM

I have repaired a few violins and built one from scratch. One of mine says it is a strad on the tag looking thru the "f" hole. It also says made in Germany. ha ha.... Anyhow it is at least 100 yrs old as it has a handwritten repair note near the label that is dated 1908. There are literally thousands of violins that are labeled inside as Strads. During the late 1800's and early 1900's, little shops all over Europe were pumping these out by the thousands. Some are decent instruments but many are just the equivalent of a cheap "student" violin.

Restoration/repair is tedious, time consuming work, so if you have much damage, it is probably not worth paying to have them fixed. You might try to sell it to someone like me who dabbles in violins as a hobby. Last year I bought a couple basket cases from a co-worker for $20 (which was pretty cheap), then spent a couple months of winter evenings (probably 60-80 hrs) repairing them. They are probably now worth a few hundred bucks.

pics of two I restored/repaired

pics of violin I built

pwd72s · 07-06-2006, 08:10 AM

WOW! Tim, I'm impressed! Guys with hand skills like yours always impress me...

Moneyguy1 · 07-06-2006, 08:15 AM

Could it possibly be from ancient Great Britain?

I have heard a lot lately about Saxon violins......

greglepore · 07-06-2006, 09:10 AM

David Bromberg, the musician, has a violin shop in Wilmington. It might be worth a trip just to have him look at it; if for the entertainment value of the trip itself only.

cmccuist · 07-06-2006, 09:15 AM

I believe I read somewhere that Stradavarious made about 1000 instruments - mostly violins, some cellos and a couple of guitars. I believe about 750 of those have been accounted for. The rest are believed to have been destroyed or lost, but there could still be a couple of undiscovered fiddles in a barn or attic. Amati was Stradivarious' teacher and his violins are also very valuable. Those violins were made in the Cremona area of Italy.

I bought a Bach Stradivarious (no relation) trumpet in a pawn shop for $75 and sold it on eBay for $800. I bought another for $85 and sold it for $750.

If you keep your eyes open, there is money to be made in musical instruments.

pmajka · 07-06-2006, 11:05 AM

Yeah...I just looked with a flash light...

Its a real Genuine (like the Pleather in my wallet)

"Copy of Antonius Stradavarious...Made in Germany" Now here is an interesting part.

There is a reciept of violin lessons Dated 1926. missing the lower bridge and wires. Bow needs new horse hair. Looks like it was played alot.

Photos later this evening.

Tim Hancock · 07-06-2006, 11:15 AM

Take a measurement of the body lengthwise now to determine if it is full size or fractional. The German made Strad copy I have (shown above) is a 3/4 size, while the one pictured next to it is full size.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 07-06-2006, 11:35 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Tim Hancock
I have repaired a few violins and built one from scratch.

I am impressed with your skills, sir. Any other woodworking you've done?

Tim Hancock · 07-06-2006, 01:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Jared Fenton
I am impressed with your skills, sir. Any other woodworking you've done?

Thanks, but I am not quite 40 yet, so I don't think the "sir" thing applies yet.

I have built a couple small row boats, an all wood ultralight and a wood wing for an aerobatic plane. I kind of bounce around different hobbies (much to the wifes dismay). I just picked up a 750cc JetSki which I intend to steal the engine out of for a small mahogany boat I am thinking about building.

In the college days, I did some carpentry work, but I basically I like doing the finer type woodworking.

All it takes is patience and alot of research into the proper techniques.

gassy · 07-06-2006, 03:30 PM

tshabet said F-hole.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by gassy
tshabet said F-hole.

And then he told him "not to get worked up". Personally, I get pretty worked up around f-holes.

pmajka · 07-12-2006, 05:40 PM

as promised, the photos..Amazing its still un damaged.

lendaddy · 07-12-2006, 05:48 PM

Interesting, I'll have to check into the F-hole tonight

pmajka · 07-12-2006, 05:52 PM

I wish i knew how old it was...
All i Know is, it was well played by 1925.

cmccuist · 07-13-2006, 02:12 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Wayne at Pelican Parts
I've got an original Strad trumpet (early serial number), and a later mass production one as well...

-Wayne

I had one of the horns reworked in the University of North Texas horn shops and it came out as if new. The other went to a craftsman who would rework the silver plating with pretty impressive designs. His work was amazing. I had the serial numbers at one time (they were in my ads), but don't know if they were early or late vintage.