Gebruder Schuster violin and

[kvasi]

I have inherited a violin and im wondering about if it`s worth any

money.

It has a label inside that says it`s a reproduction of the " alard"

Stradivarius anno 1715, and that its made by

Gebruder Schuster, and it also have Schusters signature inside the

violin.

I live in Norway and the market up here isnt to big so it would be

nice if anyone in here have any info to share.

I have sendt mail to a couple of "violinguys" in Norway and asked

them if they think its worth anything, and they all give the same

answer: its not worth much, but since they are soo kind they can

buy it cheap.

[matzstudio]

it is not easy to find a good Schuster master violin from before WW I. i had a Carl Gottlob Schuster from around 1900 once which i recently sold for 3,000 US$´s. but yours says "Gebrüder Schuster" and that´s not really an indication for a master violin. the Schuster clan and the manufactory were huge and most "Schusters" are indeed more or less well done factory instruments. nothing special.

[andrew weinstein]

The Gebruder Schusters that I have seen are high level commercial, maybe equivalent to Heberlein. If it's clean , it should be worth something, but hard to advise you on how to sell it.

[kvasi]

Thanks folks. Anyone who knows where to pick up some more info about Schusters? I dont know violins at all and really wold like to find ut anything about tha one I`ve got, even if I`m selling it or not. And, does it mean anything that Gebruder called himself a viritous at the label, or it is just something "the say" ? A suggested price would also be nice, with something that looks like the original case and bow, and some strange small boxes that I belive are ment for the hairs on the bow..

[Brad Dorsey]

"And, does it mean anything that Gebruder called himself a viritous at the label, or it is just something "the say" ?"

I don't know what you are asking here, but perhaps it will help you to know that "Gebruder Schuster" is German for "Schuster Brothers."

[kvasi]

Since I`m from Norway my english is a bit rusty, I`m afraid.. I ment that when a intruments label says that the maker is a viritous,

is it like a quality stamp, or is it something anyone can call themselve just to sound more serious? If you understand what i mean?

So Gebruder isnt a first name then? (tried to upload a couple i pic`s, but could not find out how to)

[Bob A]

William Henley's dictionary lists several Schusters, as well as Schuster Gebruder: "Factory at Markneukirchen, 1900. Good class "trade" violins."

Jalovec's Encyclopedia of Violin Makers has two pages of Schusters, including a listing of "Schuster Gebruder (Brothers); Markneukirchen, 20th cent. Owners of an old-established firm which sold and exported bowed instruments of different grades, the best specimens under fancy descriptions ('CID, TARTINI'), giving also an indication of the models after which they were built."

He appends three labels, none of which is the Alard Strad, and none of which has the Gebruder Schuster name. (I suspect the violins included a second label identifying the Schusters as makers).

So it may be that your violin is one of the higher-grade examples. How high this grade might be is not known to me, but a side-by-side comparison with a violin of some quality might be informative.

[Bob A]

A look into the Fairfield book produced a few Schusters, but not the Gebruder label. Of some interest, perhaps, is the pricing information.

Fairfield gave prices from the period when the book was written, 1942 or thereabouts. The prices were updated in the 70s, and again in 1999.

Since the instrument has been compared to the Heberleins, a comparison iof prices might be in order. In 1942, generic schusters were priced from $15-60, with the output of Kurt Schuster singled out as an excellent maker, whose instruments realised $100-250 at the time. At this time, generic Heberleins were listed at $50-250.

By 1999 Heberlein prices ranged between $3-5000; the single entry for Schuster in 1999 did not indicate a specific maker. The range given was $5-800.

I can't speak to the validity of these numbers, except to say that I've seen Heberleins advertised between $3700-8000, and they seem th realise about $2500 on the wholesale (auction) market. (One sold on ebay yesterday for about 2500).

I hope this is of some use.

[kvasi]

Once again guys: Thanks 4 the info. You are most helpful.. Do you think ebay is the best place to advertice it if I wants to sell it?

[kvasi]

I`m also planning to have a shop here in Norway to take a look at it and get their weiw on it. Do you think that will help me to get it sold on an auction?

[kvasi]

I just got the violin by mail from the family who kept it for me

for some time, and realised that there also is a bow in the case.

Its quite worn, but there is a stamp who looks like its starting

with: *SAM and then there looke to be three more letters. FOR

perhaps.. Since I know either violins or bows I would be wery happy

if anyone of you may know who can be the maker of this..

And at last I found out how to post pictures..    

[kvasi]

Anyone?

[BobH]

There are bows stamped A R SANDNER in catalogues of the 1930's, some could have been stamped with only SANDNER...This is as close a fit as I find in my resources. From the pricings, they are commercial grade bows. You can determine, to some extent, the value of the bow by the metal fittings on the frog. Lower grade bow fittings are nickel silver, sometimes called 'german' or 'coin' silver: the better bows have Sterling silver. The better bows are almost always made of Pernambuco, the lesser of other rain-forest woods, referred to as 'brazillwood. Use the search function to find posts, and maybe some pictures, on identifying Pernambuco. Post a picture of your bow, folks on this board can help you.

[kvasi]

There are some more pics in the first post.  Anyone wanna

buy?

[kvasi]

Had some trouble uploading pics, but they should be there now

 

[kvasi]

*bump*