The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1872-06-06
NO. 6.
THE VIOLIN.
RY. F. w. s.

RY. f. w. S.
A sketch of the history of the violin
would be incomplete without some men,
ton of Jacob Steiner the great Tyeolese
maker. Formerly his violins were more
highly priced than at present. He built
his instruments with very high model,
and the tone was in consequence sharp
and piercing compared with the best
Italian violins. Late in life he entered
convent, and while there constructed
sixteen violins with his utmost skill.
These were called the "Elector violins"
on account of his presenting one of them
to each of the twelve Electors and the
remaining four to the King. OnIy three
or four of the Elector yiolions now re-
main. Very may of all those good old
violins by Steamers and the Gremona
makers have been ruined by burning and
ignorant repairers, who have thought to
improve them by thinning the wood and
making other foolish alterations
Having briefly sketched the progress
of the violin from its early days to the
period of its highest development | will
not attempt to follow It's history from
Guarnerius down, but will close this
series by giving some account Of its pre-
sent condition.
The production and sale of yiolins in
creases year by year Instruments of all
degrees of value are in demand IF YOU
take the trouble to notice you will find
that almost every house contains a violin.
To supply these requires very large pro.
duction. Vuillanme Of Paris continues
to make violius of prepared wood that Sell
well. Then in the vicinity Of the village
of Markneukirchen, in Saxony, great
many private families are engaged in max
ing middle class of violins. They do
not all make complete violins, bat one
family makes the necks another family
makes the tops, another the breaks, etc,
while still others finish or put the violins
together. Most of the instruments sold
at the stores are made In this way Be-
sides these there are Ia almost all the
great cities of Europe and America max
ers who, like old Stradiuarins, work alone
and strive to make better class of instru-
ments. An acquaintance with these men
is valuable and interesting In New
York there are several such makers, tho
most noted of whom in George Gemuen-
der. Working quietly away in his little
shop he produces violins which sell for
$500 to $500, when new. He is givehi
to thought and reflection, and is most
skillful reparer as well as maker After
you have gradually made his acquaint-
ance he will show you many curious
things pieces of very old woods, deal
from church door in Europe two hund-
red years old limitations of old violins
which it puzzles you to dintingnish from
the genuine the manner of covering
strings with copper and silver wire, etc.
But the very latest and most remarkable
feature in violin making is the enterprise
of Mr.. John T. Stratton, who has within
few years built large factory at Leip-
zig in Saxony, where he makes violns
by machinery driven by steam He was
formerly a professional musician playing
the violin, cornet and other Instruments.
After time he became a merchant im
N musical merchandise, and from Observing
the need a cheap violin with a tole,-lbls
musical tone he was led to study whether
a machine might not be constructed
which should carve out the top and back
Of violin to the proper thicknesses, and
so that the thicknesses at the var
ious points could be varied so as to- make
vioiiDs of exactly the same proportions as
the best Cremona instruments. After
studying the matter long time and
spending some $40, 900, lie succeeded ip
inventing such machine and perfecting
it so that i. is now turning out violins in
great numbers. The work in his factory
is done mostly by girls, who do the var
nishing and finishing very nicely His
violins are very cheap, but the tone is
really smoother, stronger aud more musi-
cal than the price would lead you to ex-
pect. Whether MIR. Station will succeed
in making violins of so good quality as
to compete wite the Italian instrumest
remains to be seen.