Ernst Reinhold Schmidt question

[ClefLover]

I keep seeing Ernst Reinhold Schmidt instruments popping up and am wondering about the varying quality.  Some can look very nice.  I know this topic was briefly discussed awhile back, but in cellos, for example, the prices can vary by many thousands.  It was mentioned that some can be very fine, but what is “very fine” for a large workshop/factory?  Or did Ernst himself actually play a role in the building of certain instruments?

[Blank face]

Schmidt was a shop owner and wholesaler dealing with many different grades of instruments. "Schmidts Standard" or "Tartini" were the cheaper massproduced pieces, while instruments with an ERS brand inside can be of a very good quality, even better than EH Roths sometimes (IMO). I don't think that Schmidt or his sons ever had a hand in the production.

[ClefLover]

9 minutes ago, Blank face said:

Schmidt was a shop owner and wholesaler dealing with many different grades of instruments. "Schmidts Standard" or "Tartini" were the cheaper massproduced pieces, while instruments with an ERS brand inside can be of a very good quality, even better than EH Roths sometimes (IMO). I don't think that Schmidt or his sons ever had a hand in the production.

Thanks!  I read something very similarly stated about an instrument but trust it more having heard it from you.  

[ClefLover]

I found these two with initials branded, one violin and one cello:

https://www.corilon.com/shop/en/item993_1.html

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183673756978

 

At least here in South Dakota, it is a bit harder to find gems... recently had an acquaintance peddling one of these violins, but appeared to only have a label with country of origin, no brands or stamps.  It didn’t look like either one of these listed above either.  As Jacob might say, it was probably a “modest box.”  

[germain]

Back in the day I used to play on one of these. I am assuming it was a pretty high end Schmidt. It was a beautiful Del Gesu copy with a very powerful and projecting sound.  

[Blank face]

4 hours ago, ClefLover said:

I found these two with initials branded, one violin and one cello:

https://www.corilon.com/shop/en/item993_1.html

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F183673756978

 

At least here in South Dakota, it is a bit harder to find gems... recently had an acquaintance peddling one of these violins, but appeared to only have a label with country of origin, no brands or stamps.  It didn’t look like either one of these listed above either.  As Jacob might say, it was probably a “modest box.”  

I'm not so sure if the cello is real. Can't tell exactly by this photos, but it looks like something more recently made.

[martin swan]

1 hour ago, Blank face said:

I'm not so sure if the cello is real. Can't tell exactly by this photos, but it looks like something more recently made.

I agree ...

[ClefLover]

Heh... apparently it sold.  The eye of the buyer supposedly saw something different.  Curious.  Anywho, if I run into the violin I was talking about originally I will gather some photos as it might be nice to document something a certain company intended for export juxtaposed by its higher model counterpart offered by the same company.

[Blank face]

13 hours ago, ClefLover said:

Heh... apparently it sold.

Listing was ended by the seller...maybe because he felt ashamed?

[ClefLover]

Maybe, or maybe because it sold.  Age can brings us experience and insight, but for some of us, BF, it can leave us unrightously skeptical and cantankerous... I see it all too often here on MN amoungst dealer “elite.”  BTW, this topic took an annoying turn.  I’m afraid it was an uninteresting topic to begin with, though. 

[hendrik]

???

I am not a dealer , have a sunny disposition and found the topic very interesting. 

Nevertheless the cello looks newer to me too, particularly the varnish. Possibly Chinese or eastern European.

Disclaimer - I am not an expert by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[martin swan]

5 hours ago, ClefLover said:

Maybe, or maybe because it sold.  Age can brings us experience and insight, but for some of us, BF, it can leave us unrightously skeptical and cantankerous... I see it all too often here on MN amoungst dealer “elite.”  BTW, this topic took an annoying turn.  I’m afraid it was an uninteresting topic to begin with, though. 

What did you find annoying?

 

[Televet]

12 minutes ago, martin swan said:

What did you find annoying?

 

I am glad you asked, I reread the thread from end to end three times looking for something contentious but came up empty!

[Blank face]

7 hours ago, ClefLover said:

it can leave us unrightously skeptical and cantankerous... I see it all too often here on MN amoungst dealer “elite.”

If this means to name a fake as such, I take this as a compliment.

[martin swan]

Perhaps there is some parallel snowflake dimension where a deliberately mis-labelled and criminally rebranded Reghin cello is to be described as "so cuuuuuute ......."

I speak as a self-appointed member of the unrighteously sceptical, cantankerous and downright OLD "dealer elite" (I am well over 50 and therefore without joy or any remaining vestige of optimism)

[ClefLover]

5 minutes ago, martin swan said:

Perhaps there is some parallel snowflake dimension where a deliberately mis-labelled and criminally rebranded Reghin cello is to be described as "so cuuuuuute ......."

I speak as a self-appointed member of the unrighteously sceptical, cantankerous and downright OLD "dealer elite" (I am well over 50 and therefore without joy or any remaining vestige of optimism)

Heh!  Love you, Martin.  

[Blank face]

We (the crumby cantankerous) didn't forget the "Victor Fetique" from the same source, so I'm not so surprised.

Heh Martin, you know that 50 is the new 30?

 

[ClefLover]

Or that well over 50 is the new well over 30. 

[mathieu valde]

13 hours ago, martin swan said:

Perhaps there is some parallel snowflake dimension where a deliberately mis-labelled and criminally rebranded Reghin cello is to be described as "so cuuuuuute ......."

I speak as a self-appointed member of the unrighteously sceptical, cantankerous and downright OLD "dealer elite" (I am well over 50 and therefore without joy or any remaining vestige of optimism)

Could we establish smth like a official league  of "sceptical .... old dealer elite"? With Diploma, ID and all other staff. Entering only by recomendations of 5 sceptical members.  We can post it as certificate on FB and homepage. I'll be proud to do it

[ClefLover]

Look, can I just retract my grumpy statement?  While the original topic focus shifted might have annoyed me a little, not two hours earlier my teenaged daughter side-swiped another parked car.  Classic case of projection... throw me a bone?

[martin swan]

2 hours ago, ClefLover said:

Look, can I just retract my grumpy statement?  While the original topic focus shifted might have annoyed me a little, not two hours earlier my teenaged daughter side-swiped another parked car.  Classic case of projection... throw me a bone?

Sorry you need to grovel just a little bit more ... 

[Delabo]

23 hours ago, ClefLover said:

Maybe, or maybe because it sold.  Age can brings us experience and insight, but for some of us, BF, it can leave us unrightously skeptical and cantankerous... I see it all too often here on MN amoungst dealer “elite.”  BTW, this topic took an annoying turn.  I’m afraid it was an uninteresting topic to begin with, though. 

Who are the dealers here ?

I know Martin Swan is.

"Reg" has got a shop but seems to sell mostly new violins. The rest seem to have small shops that do repairs and sell the occasional violin.

Any big dealers here other than Martin ?

[Blank face]

2 hours ago, mathieu valde said:

Could we establish smth like a official league  of "sceptical .... old dealer elite"? With Diploma, ID and all other staff. Entering only by recomendations of 5 sceptical members.  We can post it as certificate on FB and homepage. I'll be proud to do it

I'm very sceptical about that....

[mathieu valde]

Just now, Blank face said:

I'm very sceptical about that....

You can be most sceptical president of league

[Blank face]

3 minutes ago, mathieu valde said:

You can be most sceptical president of league

I was always sceptical if it's a good idea to become the president of something.