American Violins Queries

[PhilipKT]

Well, the suggestion was made that I could just start a thread on American violins, so, why not. Here are some photographs, good or bad, supplied by various auction houses who are offering American Violin’s by American makers. I’m hoping to learn more about violin makers of the United States, so I hope those people who know can chime in.

[PhilipKT]

Claude Goings(1836-1913, New London NH) is not listed in the Wenberg book or in the supplement. What do you think of this violin?

 

[Wood Butcher]

Is this for antique instruments, contemporary instruments, self-taught amateurs, professionally trained makers, those who imported German violins and put their own label inside, those who were/are not American by birth and trained in another country?

[PhilipKT]

24 minutes ago, Wood Butcher said:

Is this for antique instruments, contemporary instruments, self-taught amateurs, professionally trained makers, those who imported German violins and put their own label inside, those who were/are not American by birth and trained in another country?

I dunno. Whatever you think would count as “American Maker.” I owned at one time a lovely Knopf bow made in New York. I consider him to be American, and the Gemunders, although some people might not.

do you know anything about Claude Goings? Or about this violin? The photos are bad, But an expert eye such as yours might be able to learn something from them.

Edited October 28, 2019 by PhilipKT
Addendum

[Wood Butcher]

7 minutes ago, PhilipKT said:

I dunno. Whatever you think would count as “American Maker.” I owned at one time a lovely Knopf bow made in New York. I consider him to be American, and the Gemunders, although some people might not.

The reason I asked is because I do not know about American violins, and from what I have seen on M'net over the years it is really hard to say what it typically American.
Many are rank amateur looking, there are a lot which are clearly German imported instruments or a few which look super professional, being the work of European immigrants.

Your idea of made on American soil at least clears up in my mind what you are hoping to discuss here

[GeorgeH]

 

1 minute ago, Wood Butcher said:

The reason I asked is because I do not know about American violins, and from what I have seen on M'net over the years it is really hard to say what it typically American.

Get a copy of The American Violin.

Quote

"A comprehensive survey tracing the development and art of violin and bow making in America."

A fabulous book worth every penny. 

 

[PhilipKT]

1 minute ago, Wood Butcher said:

The reason I asked is because I do not know about American violins, and from what I have seen on M'net over the years it is really hard to say what it typically American.
Many are rank amateur looking, there are a lot which are clearly German imported instruments or a few which look super professional, being the work of European immigrants.

Your idea of made on American soil at least clears up in my mind what you are hoping to discuss here

Yes you are exactly right, and that’s why it’s such a fascinating subject. I don’t know how many American makers started making without having a worthwhile Violin to serve as a guide, and yet managed to make competent instruments. There’s a strong furniture making tradition in New England and the Carolinas, And presumably that is because of available word and because of competent immigrants, and some of them must’ve been Violin makers or instrument makers of some kind.

When we think of “the best” American maker, we usually think about modern guys- or gals-And I don’t know how many 19th century or earlier makers are mentioned. The Gemunders? Friedrich? Anyone else?

Someone told me that Chris Reuning Was writing a book about New England makers, but I’ve never heard anything about it. I would sure buy a copy.

[PhilipKT]

Here’s a violin by OH Bryant but labeled “GA Henderson, maker, Boston, Mass no? 1916, OH Bryant”

Lovely piece of wood.

 

[PhilipKT]

1892 Joseph Schellinger “old wood”

and finger tapes. God save us from   finger tapes...

[mysticpaw]

Anyone heard of this maker ….. S? Florance  ??

[GoPractice]

14 hours ago, mysticpaw said:

Anyone heard of this maker ….. S? Florance  ??

 

Is that pink-ish ink?  ??

[Jeff White]

Just picked this one up the other day for a pittance. With varnish this crackled it was probably the right price.  Check out the beaks on those corners, you could hurt yourself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[PhilipKT]

9 minutes ago, Jeff White said:

Just picked this one up the other day for a pittance. With varnish this crackled it was probably the right price.  Check out the beaks on those corners, you could hurt yourself

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blair Made more than 300 violins, and supposedly offered very good workmanship, the book doesn’t say when he died but he stopped making violins in 1935.

[PhilipKT]

14 hours ago, mysticpaw said:

Anyone heard of this maker ….. S? Florance  ??

I didn’t find any reference to a maker by that name, but that doesn’t mean anything.I didn’t find any reference to a maker by that name, but that doesn’t mean anything.

[Brad Dorsey]

On 10/28/2019 at 6:49 PM, PhilipKT said:

Claude Goings(1836-1913, New London NH) is not listed in the Wenberg book or in the supplement. What do you think of this violin?

Claude Goings was wounded in the Civil War.  He practiced several trades including carriage making and violin making.  The exhibits at the New London Historical Society include speculative re-creations of his carriage shop and his violin shop.  The violin shop contains a recently assembled collection of old violin parts and old violin making tools which were not owned by Goings and a violin which was made by him.

I think the violin in your pictures not too bad for a presumably self-taught maker, but it would never be mistaken for a fine violin.

On 10/28/2019 at 7:46 PM, PhilipKT said:

1892 Joseph Schellinger “old wood”

The violin in your pictures is a lot nicer than my Schellinger.

[PhilipKT]

4 minutes ago, Brad Dorsey said:

Claude Goings was wounded in the Civil War.  He practiced several trades including carriage making and violin making.  The exhibits at the New London Historical Society include a speculative re-creation of his carriage shop and his violin shop.  The violin shop contains a recently assembled collection of old violin parts and old violin making tools which were not owned by Goings and a violin which was made by him.

Where did you find this information? If it’s a reference book I’d love to know about it.

[Brad Dorsey]

It's not in a book.  I visited the Historical Society.

[PhilipKT]

11 minutes ago, Brad Dorsey said:

It's not in a book.  I visited the Historical Society.

Brad, Thank you very much! That’s very valuable info.

[mysticpaw]

8 hours ago, GoPractice said:

Is that pink-ish ink?  ??

Yes …. strange !

[GeorgeH]

@Jeff White

Nice find. What is the LOB on that?

[mysticpaw]

10 hours ago, GeorgeH said:

@Jeff White

Nice find. What is the LOB on that?

357mm   Came with a beautiful matching case that has double purfling on the top and bottom

[GeorgeH]

22 minutes ago, mysticpaw said:

Came with a beautiful matching case that has double purfling on the top and bottom

Is that LOB for the violin @Jeff White posted?

Love to see pictures of the case! :-)

[mysticpaw]

2 hours ago, GeorgeH said:

Is that LOB for the violin @Jeff White posted?

Love to see pictures of the case! :-)

Sorry.... got mixed up ….. LOB is for my Florance violin …. I'll take photos of the case tonight  

[vathek]

The pink ink probably started as red and has oxidized

[Potter]

My daughter recently tried 2 first half of the 20th century American violins. One is by Joseph Ricker, the other by Anton Olson. Anyone have experience with these makers? Sorry no photos. 6-8K range, nice sounding. (by her and teachers ears)