hungrycanine

I recently acquired a rather nice sounding French violin that I doubt has much pedigree. It certainly shows lots of wear and tear, but I like the sound and wanted something cheap that I could travel with and not worry about. It fits THAT bill nicely. But one (perhaps two) of the pegs slip badly, and I think it might need to have new pegs fitted. I'll certainly try peg drops and/or compound first, but if it becomes a job for professional attention, are we talking $100? $500 $1000? Obviously, much depends on local charges, but I thought I'd just sound this forum out to prevent total shock when I took it in to a luthier. Sorry if this is a question that simply can't be answered.

Thanks for all this feedback. I asked the seller why the same violin is for sale again after his reply yesterday. He says the buyer didn't come through with PayPal or whatever. It all seems kinda sketchy to me, especially for reasons such as Martin and Violadamore point out. However, unlike an EBay violin, I have the option of going to hear the instrument before I make any decision. But my eye ain't much, and as I recall, I seem to have heard Juzek's name kicked around in a lot of fake label/fraudulent EBay offers. Do any of you with much better eyes see anything (other than the 4 tuners, which admittedly could have been added at a later date) that obviously keeps this from being a Juzek (albeit with a Juzek label) and of a 1940 origin? The finish seems very unusual to me, but that could have been typical of Juzek's work (or it could have been a white violin and a jar of stain for all I know!). The seller is located a good haul from me, so I'd like to sort things out before I make a trip and trust my ear! Thanks for sharing your vastly greater wisdom on this!

The following post appeared on Kijiji today. Yesterday, I'm fairly certain the same violin appeared yesterday with a more generic description. I asked for more details and authentication. The seller's reply was: "you ask too many questions. I sold it already for $1500" (That was the asking price) Today, this "new" post appears. Can anyone tell from the photos if this is an obvious rip-off of some sort? Thanks. http://calgary.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-musical-instruments-string-1940-John-Juzek-Violin-with-beautiful-voice-W0QQAdIdZ449650854

Thanks for your reply. It looks as though the ad has been removed, and it was my only source of photos (they weren't very useful anyway....)

Does anyone know about a violin from the C. Schmidl Company? I could guess the name is Czech, but that's all; I haven't found anything on the web. A label inside the violin identifies "C. Schmidl & Company" and nothing more. I don't even know if Schmidl is the maker or a shop name. It is obviously an older instrument, but I have no idea how old. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.

Guess I forgot to post the link! http://www.georgeheinl.com/products/shop/category:197

I recently came across this listing from the George Heinl Company in Toronto. Guess I was wrong about it being a student model. The website places the #106 in the "Intermediate/Advanced" category of instruments.

Gentlemen, I'm sorry I created this venue for such a difficult "conversation." I do think Lyndon has perhaps identified an important issue in his pointing to historical change on EBay. Like most things, what was a good marketplace at one point in history isn't necessarily the same after all the potential profit-seekers pile up. I've noticed SO many people on EBay who just buy up stuff just to sell it again. I suppose it isn't the place any longer to look for something an owner has outgrown/outlived and wants to make a painless sale to someone it now might fit.

Can't argue with your clarity, Lyndon. But surely SOME people who use this particular forum at least flirt with EBay, if not share a bed with it. Or am I wrong?

Hmmm... So I'm maybe back where I was??? In the bigger picture, though, I wonder if folks who use EBay and occasionally purchase instruments from it have any broad commandments about what to avoid? Of course, a "who" to avoid would also be interesting, but perhaps libelous! I suppose the differences between looking for a good deal on a student violin that is no longer used and seeking a rare gem from grandpa's closet are so vast that "guidelines" would have to be pretty amorphous. Still, if anyone wants to volunteer a Top Ten list for EBaying cautiously, it might make life harder for a few sleaze bags.

Thanks, Lyndon!

I'm looking at this violin on EBay: http://www.ebay.ca/itm/150882259898?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649 The seller appears (based on buyers' feedback) to have sold several other "old" German and/or Italian violins. They all seem to have had new rosewood or boxwood tailpieces and/or chinrests added, and new strings put on, but the PICTURES of the violins themselves always look pretty decent to a novice. I am (sensibly?) shy (scared #!*less?) of EBay, but this seems like it might be worth bidding on. I'd sure appreciate the thoughts of those more informed about violins and EBay purchases. I currently own a passable Chinese student model and a German/George Heinl (Toronto)intermediate violin, so I'm not sure what I'd do with a third! I certainly wouldn't want to get a violin that is "comparable" to my student model, but a different-sounding intermediate to take to camps, use for travel, etc., might be fun. Again, your opinions are valued.

For what it's worth, I was recently at a luthier getting a bow re-haired. I mentioned something about purling and she showed me a number of violins where the top had developed splits (or cracks? I'm not sure of the precision of such terms) starting at each side of the saddle. For her, it was clear that the splits were more able to develop at those points because no purfling "protected" the main surface of the top from splits that had begun in the end grain at the edge of the top, and then moved inward. Since there was no purfling where the saddle was set into the top, there was nothing to stop end-splits from continuing onward and upward -- or so the story went. It made sense, and helped me understand purfling a bit better. As I think about it, however, I suspect the stress of the saddle itself might have contributed to or created the splits, rather than the lack of purfling. It's a mystery, and hats off to anyone who makes these amazing instruments!

OUCH, Martin! You just took the "fun" out of the thought of bidding on what seemed an unusual novelty! Not so unusual to more experienced eyes, I take it!

Well THAT seemed easy! Thanks Jacob. Any opinions as to its age or dollar value? I'm still just looking for something to leave in the States for when I visit relatives there, and this looks kind of fun. Believe me, my skill level doesn't require a lot from the instrument!

EBay has a curious fiddle at http://www.ebay.ca/itm/270994303796?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2648 Any opinions as to the origins of a creature such as this? The inlay and the pegs might be a dead giveaway for some of you knowledgeable folk. The seller says s/he likes the sound (duh!). I'm not even sure if I'd bid on it, but it does arouse my curiosity about whether this sort of instrument is likely a "gypsy" violin, something out of the Scandinavian tradition, a Chinese amusement, a nicely-crafted American-made novelty, or whatever. Thanks for sharing your perspective.

Thanks, Martin. That answers my question very nicely. I don't think I'll buy stock in either! I had read somewhere that the Mediofino was "modest" but "better than most German tanks" of the period!

Does anyone know whether the Mediofino or the Celebre Vosgien is/was the better JTL instrument, all other factors equal? I understand both were student models, but both fairly decent. I'm wondering if either model was made to higher standards than the other. Thanks.

Thanks for these replies. Brad, I'll have to look more closely after hearing this discussion, but I see what you mean about my ambiguous description of the purfling (or not) of my violins. I hadn't meant to distinguish the two as being different, but as I say, after the posted replies, a closer look is probably necessary. As is often the case, I find it interesting how far my assumption of the function of inlaid purling seems to have been from the mark. Any further information is most welcome.

The curious but not-yet-killed cat is back with another academic question. I'd be interested in whatever the learned members of this forum would be willing to share with me regarding purfling. I know little about it except that it is usually inlaid and that cheap violins "pen" it on. Is there a site that might provide basic information? I looked at my very inexpensive Chinese starter/student violin, and can clearly see the "purfling" is merely painted/drawn/penned on top of the wood. The grain goes right through the purfling. But I also looked closely at an intermediate $2000-2500 German violin I own, and the grain also appears to continue on the other side of the purfling. Does this mean the "better" violin also has "penned" purfling, or am I misunderstanding how purfling works? Would a $2000-2500 German violin likely even have INLAID purfling? What sort of price range does one need to go before purfling is virtually automatic? I've seen some pretty inexpensive instruments on EBay that have inlaid purfling, so I had thought it rather standard over $500 or so. And I'm not even certain of the function of purling (something to do with controlling the natural shrinkage/swelling of wood? enabling the luthier to remove and reinstall the top and bottom?). So if you are willing to take the time to fill me in, or to direct me to a helpful site, I'll happily learn from almost anything you say! Thanks.

I found the EBay link I ran across recently that has both roman numeral and "Nippon". http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-NIPPON-VIOLIN-BOW-1891-1921-JAPAN-RARE-MARKED-XXI-NIPPON-/130608018174?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1e68d832fe I suppose Japanese luthiers might have needed to keep track of their bows just as German luthiers did. It is interesting to learn that the characters don't mean anything about length or weight or balance or whatever. Thanks for the insight.

Thanks for that response, Jacob. So at least if the roman numerals are at the low end, bows with those marks aren't necessarily mass produced, are they! Now, too many Cs or Ls or Ds might be a problem! I have seen at least one bow (on EBay, I think)that had both a roman numeral AND the word "Nippon", so I guess anyone can attempt to fake authenticity! And generally, if it can be done, someone will try.....

I've recently seen a few older bows for sale with characters such as XX1 or III stamped on the bow near the frog. Does anyone know what those characters mean? Are they simply model numbers? weights? Does it tell anything in particular about the origin or dating of the bow? I'd be interested in knowing. Thanks

Thanks, Martin, for your remarks. "totally misplaced" is kind, isn't it, especially considering what the ebayer is trying to pull by her carefully worded dodge!

This ebay item has a label that says it is a Farotti Celeste. Would a finish like this be likely to have used on one of his violins? Or is the label totally misplaced? Thanks for your thoughts. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Handsome-Vintage-Violin-labeled-Farotti-Celeste-/120908301432?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c26b24478#ht_500wt_1413