IBK

There are some very sophisticated buyers on eBay. I don't think that they would be fooled by such nonsensical listings.

Nicholas Morlot worked in a style similar to Didier Nicholas. He was not as well known. His market values would be slightly lower than D. Nicholas

Most certainly Freidrich August Glass, Klingenthal

https://www.ebay.com/itm/374629338506?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=ZuKGfPeoQmu&sssrc=2047675&ssuid=Y9RPgDPzQB2&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

In times past violinmakers had to go through extraordinary steps to access the inside of a string instruments. Top removal , searching with a dental mirror or peeking through the end pin hole. Cello repairers always had the option of using a flexible fiber optic medical endoscope for such exploration (too big for violins and violas) and very expensive Then came the low cost straight line boroscope which could be used with a computer through the USB port. They were easy to use but very limited as they were straight line view and the built in illumination was usually not bright enough to produce a non grainy image. Recently I came upon the “articulating video borescope” which makes the exploration of the inside of a string instrument a breeze. Resolution is great and so is the illumination. These are available on Amazon or eBay and run between $100 and $200. Not cheap but not excessive in cost and as the market becomes saturated the price will surely drop. The one I purchased has a 5 inch video screen as part of the device, however they are available for use with a smart phone. They record images or video on an sd card. I am not a representative of any distributor or manufacture of these devices. This post is to share information with my colleagues.

Your post says that the violin dates from 1948 and is a Colin-Mezin11; however he died in 1934. Possibly it is a Colin-Mezin 111! who retired in 1960

The best way to acquire string instruments, is to purchase local estate pieces. You can usually only do this if you are in the business where things walk into your shop. There are no buyer's fees, taxes or shipping. It is called "proximity to the market". Often an instrument comes into a shop which has been in a closet for many years, the family wants to dispose of it and if it comes into your shop there is a good possibility that you will be able to buy it. Buying at auction is expensive. Selling at auction is expensive.

This came from an estate and was retailed by Alfred Ottomano, a violin dealer who's shop existed in the 1920's, 30's and until the late 40's when he passed away. He dealt in fine violins. The label reads: "I certify that this violin was strictly hand made in Italy, Milano 1924 Alfred Ottomano, Newark New Jersey. " Certainly not Chinese. It sat in a closet for more than 50 years according to the former owner. It had ancient strings including a plain gut A. Compare it to the Bisiach listings in the Cozio Archive.

Hi This is a violin from the Bisiach workshop 1924. Probably not built by Bisiach himself but probably the work of Ornati, Sderci, Leandro Jr. Carlo Bisiach, Andrea, Garimberti, Rocchi or one of the other numerous makers of his shop. Yours is a nice copy which will probably cause a lot of confusion in 100 years.

Just came across this site which has the Skinner May and October 2009 Musical Instrument Auction Catalogs for download. They are free but you have to sign up (free of charge) http://www.scribd.com/doc/14199442/Skinner...cal-Instruments

I would agree with Fellow that if it is just the ivory tip which is fractured that is not a problem. Replacement with either bone or mastadon will preserve the value of the bow. If however, the walls of the tip are fractured, that is another matter entirely and could present big problems for subsequent rehairings. Perhaps that is why the Nurnberger is priced at only $2000.

Bugs in the Bow from the Strad Magazine Feb, 1989 Bugs_in_the_Bow.pdf

I have the article you are all looking for and will scan and post it tomorrow 2/3 when I get into my shop, barring any objection from the folks at The Strad Magazine

Sounds pretty much like what goes on today. A prominent Philadelphia firm comes to mind.

Certainly not a great instrument, but it looks like a clean break if that is the only problem. I think that it could be replaced for less than the cost of the repair and would probably sound better, but at that level of instrument, who knows. For an instrument that was run over by a car, I am surprised that it didn't sustain greater damage. I once had an instrument brought into my shop which was also run over by a vehichle. The violin and case were an integrated mess and would have required micro surgery.

Any type of liquid or wax applied to the surface of an instrument with a crack can cause extreme complication for a restorer. It becomes even more of a problem when an old crack has not been properly repaired. Wax based polishes have solvents in them such as nitro benzine. They clean and polish and can leave an oily residue even when wiped off the surface. I have seen wax based polishes used on newly varnished instruments that cause the varnish to crackle. Nice for antiquing but not for an evenly color varnished instrument. Proceed with extreme caution when attempting to clean or polish an instrument.

I think that most Americans have a soft spot for the Jackson Guldan violins because of their place in history. During WW II when violns were not avialable from Europe or from Japan, it was the Jacskon Guldan violin which supplied the US with its supply of new and inexpensive violins.

Nice fiddle, even with the condition issues. Quite possibly Testore school, especially the ff holes. I don't think that it is Tyrolean. Of course buying a violin of this type on eBay is always a gamble as you don't know how it sounds and how the repairs were done.

The sad news that Olando Cole has passed away at 101 years of age as reported by Curtis Institute http://www.curtis.edu/html/21160.shtml He was a great cellist and one of the nicest persons you would ever want to meet. He owned the "Sleeping Beauty" Montagnana cello which was a featured poster in the Strad Magazine some years ago.

Looks like your fiddle was the residence of a family of mice. Now that would not have happened if your very handsome cat was on the scene.

I suspect that this is what he might have used on that telecast.

I don't think that this cello has anything to do with any member of the Guadagnini family. It looks like a 19th century commercial instrument that at one time may have served as a "mouse house."

Last night PBS presented Joshua Bell and Friends from Lincoln Center in NYC. It looked like he was playing a modern instrument, however the announcer said that he was playing the Hubermann Strad. It looked too new to be a Strad. Any one know what he was playing ????

Good decision, you are a gentleman

This is in bad taste