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Posted

Curious if anyone out there can tell me anything about this violin. The only thing I know about it is that it’s an imitation Strad based on the label, but it was a gift from an ex years and I can’t for the life of me remember where he acquired it from. It’s clearly in pretty rough shape (seems to have suffered water damage?) so I’m not expecting that it’s worth anything, but I’m mostly curious about an estimated age and origin. In the case with it was a really nice pernambuco bow with a real ivory end screw and frog with the number 4 (Roman numeral) scratched into it as the only marker, and a couple of these unique looking handmade pegs. I don’t have a photo of the bow because it’s at my luthier getting refurbished and rehaired. 
 

Any insight, opinions, or guesses you have would be appreciated. I don’t have the money to bring it in for an appraisal (nor do I think it would be worth it given it’s condition) but I’m curious about it! Thanks! 

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Posted

I mean I'm no expert, but it seems quite unfair to some of the nice work done in the MNK/S cottage industry to describe this as "the usual"* 

 

*I get the repeat terminology around here, of course

Posted
2 minutes ago, Sammyo said:

I mean I'm no expert, but it seems quite unfair to some of the nice work done in the MNK/S cottage industry to describe this as "the usual"* 

 

*I get the repeat terminology around here, of course

what does it have to do with "fairness"?

Posted

Violins just like this one were made in thousands per month in the best years of MNK/S manufacturers so that alone qualifies them as "the usual".

Posted
7 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

The "usual". Product of the Markneukirchen/Schönbach cottage industry, end of 19th C

Thanks for the info! Someone else also told me it looked like a German build from mid-late 19th century. I don’t know much about the trends in that region era. Do you think it was factory made or produced in a smaller shop? Someone on another forum commented about the uneven F holes not being consistent with factory. 

Posted
3 hours ago, Kovalad said:

Thanks for the info! Someone else also told me it looked like a German build from mid-late 19th century. I don’t know much about the trends in that region era. Do you think it was factory made or produced in a smaller shop? Someone on another forum commented about the uneven F holes not being consistent with factory. 

They had a “cottage industry” system, so you cannot really talk of a “factory” in a modern sense

Posted
2 hours ago, jacobsaunders said:

They had a “cottage industry” system, so you cannot really talk of a “factory” in a modern sense

Since Covid a lot of people now work at home so modern businesses are going back to the old 'cottage industy" plan.

Saves commuting time, fuel, parking fees, pollution, city congestion, kids see their parents, the dogs get walked and neighbors get along.

Posted
On 12/18/2024 at 2:30 AM, Kovalad said:

Thanks for the info! Someone else also told me it looked like a German build from mid-late 19th century. I don’t know much about the trends in that region era. Do you think it was factory made or produced in a smaller shop? Someone on another forum commented about the uneven F holes not being consistent with factory. 

Not anywhere near mid 19th century; more "around 1900". It's mass produced in the most economic way they could get organised to do it. Absolutely nothing special here. No uncertainty and ifs and buts and maybes either.

And it's close to the bottom of the production line up. Apart for the damage obvious in the photos I see a pin crack going under the tailpiece and a rather dodgy looking back centre seam. In all likelihood it will not be economically feasible to bring it back into playing condition. 

Posted
On 12/17/2024 at 1:30 PM, Kovalad said:

Thanks for the info! Someone else also told me it looked like a German build from mid-late 19th century. I don’t know much about the trends in that region era. Do you think it was factory made or produced in a smaller shop? Someone on another forum commented about the uneven F holes not being consistent with factory. 

As I understand it (I wasn't there), in this "cottage industry", the PARTS were made in the cottages, and then they were brought into town to a facility (not really a factory in today's terms) where they were assembled and finished. One "cottage" (probably better described as a farmhouse) might produce tops, one might make necks, etc..

  • 1 month later...
Posted (edited)

The only thing you can say about these types of 'old' violins is that there is a limited no. of them. No more will ever be made.

Now that might be a bad thing or a good thing but there is something rather romantic about getting these seriously neglected old instruments playing again.

The guy that restored my two old violins* has been repairing violins for 48 years. He agrees. And he says he almost feels sorry for those cheap modern student violins when folk bring them in & he has to work on them. His words were "You poor thing!"

As you play them* they start opening up and you get to know them and love them. The first one is mellow and a bit woozy. The second one is hearty & responsive.

 

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Edited by rickpmills
Correct understanding!

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