30 replies to this topic

[Waltjie]

Dear Maestronet Forumers,

This is my first ever post, and I am sure not my last.
I bought this violin over the weekend from someone's garage sale.
There is no label visible inside unfortunately.
Would anyone care to guess as to what the origin of this could be? I would imagine that it is a couple of decades old, as it came in a wooden "coffin" type case. The front has quite a lot of nicks in the varnish, and when viewed up close, the varnish appears to have a crackling effect all over. Other than this, and some other scrapes on the edges, there is no visible damage whatsoever. One thing I will point out, is that the fingerboard is NOT ebony, but rather a lighter wood with black coloring painted on.

Thanks for any input! Much appreciated.

[lyndon]

a REALLY cheap violin

[cheapjack]

This is a violin shaped object.

[jacobsaunders]

Made in Schönbach in Bohemia (now Luby) between the two word wars. The very cheapest of school violins.

[lyndon]

wouldnt it have been nice for us all if the two wars were word wars instead of world wars, jacob

[jacobsaunders]

wouldnt it have been nice for us all if the two wars were word wars instead of world wars, jacob

Sorry Lyndon, my mistake. Perhaps I was getting it mixed up with Ski`s "Expert" thread

[lyndon]

that threads more of a troll war than a word/world war.......

[Roger Hargrave]

Sorry can't tell you, I don't have a university certificate.

[Waltjie]

Thank you to everyone for your feedback.

[Ratcliffiddles]

Chinese violin, of the type sold in the 1970's.

[jacobsaunders]

Chinese violin, of the type sold in the 1970's.

Want a five minute argument, or the full half hour? Although I must admit I haven`t a university certificate either

[Walter O'Bannon]

Chinese violin, of the type sold in the 1970's.

This was my vote as well, but I didn't want to contradict Jacob. Glad I can hide behind you now!

[Ratcliffiddles]

This was my vote as well, but I didn't want to contradict Jacob. Glad I can hide behind you now!

Jacob is NOT the world's expert on Chinese violins, I am

[jacobsaunders]

Jacob is NOT the world's expert on Chinese violins, I am

Mind you, I have done a guided tour around the firm "Cremona" in Luby, andthat wasn`t in china when I was there

[Walter O'Bannon]

I'll clear out a shelf for your multi-volume dictionary of fictitious names and trademarks!

For the sake of having my 'test' graded, I voted this way based on the streaky maple and guitar style "tobacco burst" lacquer.

[jacobsaunders]

I'll clear out a shelf for your multi-volume dictionary of fictitious names and trademarks!

For the sake of having my 'test' graded, I voted this way based on the streaky maple and guitar style "tobacco burst" lacquer.

The basic common denominator is surely that neither peter or I would want the fiddle, even for nothing. I wouldn`t clear any of my shelves for the "Cremona" firm in Luby, I would rather watch ping-pong in the telly

[Michael Richwine]

From the varnish and general style of making I would have said "Pfretschner, 1960s", but even Pfretschners are better than that.

Chinese violins never used that chippy rosin varnish, that I've ever seen.

[stephen maloney]

William Lewis & Son, ca. 1980 (made in Germany). It was left outdoors and antiqued by an unskilled woodpecker.

[lyndon]

ive heard of 1970s japanese violins, but not chinese, certainly ive seen this hideous varnish on really cheap violins i thought were mid 20th century german

[DGerald StephenR]

I thought it was Chinese at first because of the spalted maple on the back and what I think looks like a plastic, ebonised fingerboard. The cheap Germany ones I would relate to this I generally think of having a dyed fingerboard as apposed to that plastic ebonized stuff. The finish looks like it could go either way (IMveryHO) but the corner work looked better than what I generally relate to the early Chinese instruments I'm reminded of by this.

So in summation, I just don't know...had I had some proper schooling..?