Rothwein

Short for "Georg" maybe?

Are these diagrams as viewed from the inside? Because if so, Le Messie is thicker on the bass side instead of under the soundpost.

Thanks, Jacob. I need to crack open my long-neglected Western Civ. textbook.

Okay, I understand. I'm still not clear on the difference between Vogtland and Egerland, etc. so I'll follow with curiosity piqued.

My personal recommendation, unless you are going to keep it to practice restoration techniques, is to use simple, unadorned, good quality fittings and glue it back together as a playing instrument. The ivory(?) lower saddle may cause a problem if you try to sell it internationally, but it seems to be original, in which case you would need a carnet from... well, whoever's in charge of CITES now. This will not be a million dollar instrument. But if it can be put under someone's chin (on someone's arm? Against someone's chest?) it is worth more than firewood.

On my own instruments,with a normal tailpiece, I usually go by the D for violin. Guitar and cello, I haven't messed with for a while, so, anyone else?

Buzeeafus is a pronoun? Plate tuning... I haven't ever carved a top, as finished violins are much easier to play. But I do notice differences in tone when checking for open seams, cracks, etc. Along the purfling, Thock Thock Thock... Click is either a seam open or a crack. Not sure what a higher pitched sound from tapping one of the quadrants of the table (lungs, I guess is luthierspeak?) indicates. I hope the OP got something useful from this thread. I appreciate that it's been a very civil discussion amid all the digressions

This is one that could be a good player.

Bristle Cone pine? I'm intrigued!

I read these threads lately with an eye to Something I can Try to fix a problem. This one has been marvelous, though it was too long before the word "optimum" was laid out. Nothing to add, just Good Show! Carry on, y'all!

That ^^ occured to me as well, an attempt to maintain the record of actual people who did stuff. Kind of like an automobile service record kept in the glove compartment of your Beetle, along with the spare tire

A sheynem dank, Blank face!

I agree with Volkmann. The formation of a more latinate v is easier, even if not "correct" with the ~ . The k resembles my Cyrillic use, an odd habit and not particularly Russian. Where is Glogau?

Maybe. In this particular violin I couldn't say. A couple of questions come to mind: So many of these Vogtland instruments appear with repair labels. What would be the "original state" of such an instrument, and what was incorrect about them that they needed to be corrected? I don't want to derail this thread; perhaps I'll start a seperate one. Secondly, there seems to be a common configuration of the varnish, that the easiest analogy I find is Shelby striping. Sort of leaving a yellow stripe with the red applied to either side, on all surfaces (top, back, ribs.) It seems deliberately done so as to appear a design choice rather than an imitation of wear. Almost as if there were a cottage industry of fiddle hot rod shops. If it was by design, how was it done? Finally, for all the headscratching, I find the OP violin very appealing. Thank you for sharing it!

I'm sorry I have nothing useful to offer the discussion, but @keyboardclass, this is the perfect illustration of Streichinstrumentengefühl [phonetically "big long German word noone understands"] "You shoulda seen it it was... and colors..." "Yeah, but what was the sound like?" "A hornet trapped between two woolcards. But man, the wood..." Enjoy your cello!

I think pre-WWI, but after 1890 (a shot in the dark, and I actually would enjoy the experts' correction if it's forthcoming.) For what it's worth, I think your best investment is a microfibre cleaning cloth. And since nobody brought it up, I'd hedge on your asking (not cheap, but poor!) but if it winds up a fair bargain (hint: a bad application of magical violin fluid would significantly lower my inclination to offer for it in the first place) I think I'd enjoy playing it as it comes, no extra "how 'bout I throw in a..."[whatever] necessary. Unless you have a new chinrest that you haven't tried out yet. ;-D @AlCramer Out of curiosity, is your Maggini patterned more after the actual known instruments, or are you calling it that because it may have double purfling lines and is labeled such? You will see it come up time and again if you stick around. But figure out how important is the distinction, and after awhile one of the Meistergeigenbauern will join you for a liter of... well, whatever musicians drink these days. Leftover dishwashing water, from the tales I've heard

Not Teka, which clamps to the left of the tailpiece and is a bit more wedge-shaped. Maybe an early Flesch style?

Not a maker, but an author Arnak (Ara) Danielian. Sorry not to link, but a quick Google search brings him up. I knew the name sounded familiar.

Another thing to consider is condensation on the violin, potentially building up to loosen seams.

One thing I have taught people to do is hold something they know is "heavy" (that is more than an ounce--28g) in their hand while they do a simple string crossing or rhythm excercise, then repeat without the weight. I'm not sure if it's the mass that matters or the leverage.

It's lowish, about 5.5mm. I had to use a shim, and it started life with one anyway. The upper bout ribs are tall, 30 or 31mm. Since you seem interested, I'll try to put up some. photos later today. I ended up ordering a couple of Despiau 2tree from International, and they may actually arrive this year :-)

Success as you see it was made systemically impossible for certain people to attain. I do not subsist on largesse.

A bit of both. I reglued the fingerboard, adjusting for flatness on the gluing surfaces. I had already cut down the bridge once (projection was ~25 at that time, and with an unsecured fingerboard, the neck bowed.)

Michael, it's good to know that the Aubert Seven is still good. Germain, if I had patience I'd do a Despiau 3 tree low heart. Dov has C and D grade of Despiau, Int'l has more options, but postage... Swell! A bit late for Auld Lang Syne, but maybe I could noodle some Second Line riffs. Thanks!

In the cascade effect that always seems to ensue when doing self-maintenance on a fiddle, the projection of my fingerboard now ends at a point leaving the string clearance at end of fingerboard as e 1.5mm/ g ~3mm. This in my experience does not allow for easy bowing or clear intonation, so, having no spare blanks, I need to order a couple. (I haven't confidence enough to buy one expensive blank and get it done right first time, so I figure at least a backup, maybe two.) So are there any good reliable brands/ sellers who have a good basic bridge blank for 10-15USD? International Violin have been good to deal with, and Dovmusic carry the mid and low grade elite brands, and I'll check with them for sure, but I hope y'all might offer further insight. Thanks all, and Happy Boxing Day!