Violin Forum/Message Board

[Ferenc]

Hello, I have lurked around on this message board for some time now, but this is my first post, so hello to all. I recently took a huge chance and bought a violin off of ebay, and to my surprise, it sounds amazing! I was just wondering if any luthiers, players, etc. might have any info on the maker, or year it was made (guestimate), etc. I'll provide the link to the ended auction where you can see the pictures and some info.

I gather that this violin was restored by Albert Klinth in 1952, but not made by him. The label he inserted actually has the word "Maker" after his name crossed out and "Restoration only" written above it. You can see where the former makers label was either removed, or came off right below it.
Not sure if it is of hungarian origin or not. Thanks in advance for any help! I love this violin's sound, and I would to know a little more about the history if I can.
Thanks
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120460857749#ht_500wt_1182

[Michael Darnton]

It looks like a nice German factory-type violin from the late 1800s. Yes, they usually sound pretty nice--just because they made a lot of them relatively cheaply didn't mean they didn't know what they were doing.

The decorated ones like yours are special models, sold for more than the usual ones. If you can find one of those repros of the 1902 Sears catalog you may well find something similar.

[Ferenc]

Thanks Michael!
That helps out allot! I think my friend has one of the old sears magazines, I'll have to look into it.
Thanks again for all the help!

[CT Dolan]

I know that back in the day these shops were a dime a dozen, but has anyone ever heard of Gunther Lufthaus from Hamburg? I have an 1894 Gunther Lufthaus violin, and the sound of the G and D strings are just gorgeous (they are such a joy to play...with many colors and much latitude for expression). The A and E are a bit strident in the open position, but they do get better on up the neck (the A really beings to sizzle once one gets above the first few notes, except for a woefully weak E-note on the A string in the first position). Anyway, assuming the label is accurate (the violin appears to be from the period), it is a pretty good older, German violin, and I am very curious about the maker.

[Dave Chandler]

Ferenc:

Its nice looking wood on the back, the reworking of the peg holes is interesting, already wore out one set and had to have bushings inserted. I think it looks like a really interesting piece. Soundpost still in place?

CT, I'd try some other brand of strings for A & E on the Lufthaus.
_________________
Dave in the Blue Ridge
Southern Violin Association

"Success is the ability to go from one failure to the next with no loss of enthusiasm" Winston Churchill

"I took the road less travelled, and now I don't know where I am." Marco Polo

[CT Dolan]

Dave,

Thank you for the suggestion. I have tried a number of different strings (type and gauge) and the problem has persisted. However, I just had the violin in for adjustment and the bridge was pushed over a touch, to bring it in better agreement with the bass bar, and the result has been quite good. The violin is not perfect, but the improvement was huge. John also commented that the bass bar is not of the ideal profile, but I am not ready to get into that yet (and neither was he!).

Thanks again,
Chris

[Ferenc]

Dave,
Sorry for the long delay in response! Thanks for the compliments, yes the soundpost is still intact, I recently had a bridge put on it and restrung, and it is really an amazing sounding instrument! I have played violin for many years, and have a somewhat decent ear for violins, and I simply can not believe the sound that comes from it. Thanks again for all the responses, this website really is valuable resource not just for luthier's, but musicians as well.

[Speidel]

I got this strange old fiddle in a fleamarket in western Virginia. The most obvious peculiarity of it is that it has a lion's head instead of a scroll.

[img]http://img175.imageshack.us/i/profileofscrolloflionhe.jpg/[/img] [img]http://img38.imageshack.us/i/scrolloflionheadfiddle2.jpg/[/img]

There are other strange things about it though. Both the front and the back are carved of a single piece of wood, and the bass-bar is integral, carved out of the top instead of glued to it. The neck is simply glued to the outside of the rib. There is a peg in the block, however, which fits into a hole in the top, which almost suggests that the cavity of this violin was used as a hiding place. (The top was unattached when I bought it.)

[img]http://img521.imageshack.us/i/faceretainingpegonlionh.jpg/[/img]

This fiddle needs some substantial repairs. Some of the wood was torn from the neck where the fingerboard was ripped loose at some time, and the peg box needs a piece glued in. There is also an enlargement at the center of one of the f-holes to accommodate a mouse. Still, it's such an odd old instrument that it seems worth the trouble.[/img]

I would be interested in comments about the probable origin of the instrument as well as tips on restoration.

[L P Reedy]

Speidel,
Look a little closer. That neck is NOT glued onto the ribs. It has what is known as an integral neck block, which is an extension of the neck. The ribs are inserted into slots in the sides of the neck.

The peg is a simple locating pin for the top, which in this case does not have a cutout for the neck.

[Speidel]

By Jove you are right about that integral neck block. I had to chip away some of the spruce fragment stuck on there to verify it but you are right.

You are right that there is no cut-out for the neck. That's two more unusual features that I missed.

Do these features imply anything about the origin or age of the fiddle?

I notice that the lion's head looks like a fairly crude imitation of a lion's head found on some Stainer violins. Also the top is rather uneven on the inside.

[Speidel]

There is a black substance on the front that seems to be not part of the original finish, since a bit of it extends into the mouse-chew. I suppose it might be rosin. Any recommendation on whether and how to remove that?

[rs]

The best solvent I have found to remove bow rosin and other dirt is xylene.
_________________
Randall Shenefelt