One thing I would like to underscore is that you should be careful when looking at and handling someone else's instrument. His had had these big sausage fingers and wore bib overalls, and was chewing on a plug. Got some bite I was told at Galax this year. If you answer yes to 3 or more don't pay a lot for this fiddle, especially if the cracks don't appear to be repaired well. Of course, read all tips, just because the fiddle is broken it doesn't mean you should avoid it at all costs.
Labels can be very misleading, however it is a clue.
This step usually involves a second look at the fiddle. Of course Jim Costa saw the same fiddle, left, went to town, got the money and returned to buy it. He plays it some today. Fiddles at public auctions, look at the fiddle, determine the maximum you would pay, give it to the auctioneer as a sealed bid and go do something else with your time. Fiddles at auctions fetch way out of proportion prices.