New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1885-12-06
THE VIOLIN MIXER OF ASTORIA
A VISIT TO HIS SHOP AMONG THE VINES.
now HE LOOKS AND woRKs-FAMoUs INSrRu
MENTs THAT HK HAS MADE.

now HE LOOKS AND woRKs-FAMoUs fNsfKu
MENTs THAT HK HAS MADE.
A TRIBUNE reporter made a pilgrimage the
DtLer day to Astoria to pay visit 10 George Geunasr
the violin maker who has lived and worked there for
many years A walk OF half mile through the heepy
and rather shabby little town brought him 10 tho ohna
lane, which leads to the instrument makers house
plaster covered story building uncovered in grace
vines with bis Of primitive forest ct the back
ring the doorbell answered by blue eyed young
man, with fair hair combed back from the forehead
This George Commander IT,. and no shows the visitors
through the hall and into his fathers workshop small
room, looking upon bit OF primitive forest whose
leaves heard rustic through the half open wfndo"
The shop full OF tools an Of specimens Of tho masters
hand,work every stage Of construction, from the
shspeless OF the original block through the hrst
stages Of back, front and sides roughly dug QUE Win
chsels the finished pieces the ones partially lifted asa
glued together completely formed bat unYarnisned
Instruments with the first Of yarniso, or as me
maker faecu0ualy termed IT, the Shirt and hnaLy the
finished Instruments In their coats OF glossy
yarnsh every mark, scratch. groove and depression
corresE ondng with the model after which Is fored
came forth day bright and pew from tne
humble Cremona workshop OF its master. with the t'a
OF Northern Italy whispering at the door As inc
Long Island forest at the threshold III This
modern worker.
The elder Gemunder citing az his work table, with an
unfinished instrument Ia his hands, I'D ais son ana
enter, Is striking figure Hls features "I0
evidently German and the first words he speaks Oe@"y
hs nationality plainly. His Ions. gray hair Is oo'SFeS
with blue smoking cap aud resting on his long oearu
- a black and glossy mearschaum pipe with long
cherry wood stem. The instrument that be h"Ins
formed and he IA finishing it OF with scFapng Dstru.
mont g!ancn- II over with critical eye, until An an
favorable feature strikes him. when he SEQ 70 Work 10
remedy the defect He continues to WORK ~ ne TALKS au
h son resumes hs work Instruments which he Is
Carrying together coward completion The violin ~hou
the older man holds Is beiug I'll order from
Astoria ora. ocho OF fRmo from the quiet WorKShop
having penetrated to that iarshay corner. The iron
or belly OF this INSTRUMENT made from supply
.rrace wood ghch M Gemunder obtained some twenty
years ago from tho old Dutch church which formerly
stood at Fulton AMI William sts New York Protesso
Herman EchhardL Of Columbus, Ohio, Glanced 10 be
passing tho church when 1t was being torn down. ana
sesug his wood being hauled away secured II Ior
his friend tao uako The wood had oeon Ia
tho church building since time Of ito construction,
nearly 200 years before It pulled down. and proved
"A rich and yaiuaha supply Of material With WHICH 10
work Tho hrst Sio!n made from this wood WA pre-
sented ~ Professor EokhArdt II WAS OF tho hagghl
pattern ana It's tone proved the Vaue Oh 'e 1'eA VI
which IL constructed
The OF tho violin "a made Of close aimed bui
soft wood wu.lo tho back aud sides made OF hard
wood usually maple. SIR Gemnnder claims dlteo
professions. descent from etrsdvlrius name Whcl
va. himself u pupil Of Nullaumc, the FLlIsh ,io'ia,
maker Tuis maker believed lnat 40 nSH sT,vu ,n'
by treating hs wood with 3 chemical preparation Ihu
y,arat,on il effect the tone the Instrument while
"c nut IN tiule the wood became dry aud parcDoe
aud the dead. Genunier WOFAou On Iac ,hSo4!
mat the model of the instrument was all Ia ALL ana e
himself 20 initiate, As closely AS possible VI
model, o. OLD instruments D. sradyATius, Suernerui
ments ras pronounced good. bal the Preadoe aSlnsl
instruments proved 80 "x9es'vg os S ~ y
s,ovn instruments vel did he ID this that various
q hi a. he Old italian models. with dir1cuIIJ
cony need that they not actually CrenOna ylons,
Tic reporter conducted into h'tle PIrlor sdoln
In, Inc WORK hor and allowed see the masterpieces
,yh,cI arc kept there Prominent among them Is IN,
h'e'r & tie enI medal At the vienna Exposition
is73 This violin at FIRST pronounced by the Jury
o,,nrt thc ul-!A 10 Gemuuder. Upon II 6eiu{ lhil9
uuny proven that he had made the violin with Ms Jwi
line on the original model "a Joseph GuernerI IS repro
ducrd IN this COPY; the sishtest iTfeR , ~ ~,
become uuteady from observation-disclosures IN strong drink
and scratches In the vaTni,h caused oy 11s w.,
minutve uine-incl strad, correctly prop'rt.onsl
Eoyercd by the TIP OF ordinary mans nnger 01
wieniawski actually played on cue instrumonI is
framed and displayed here. This document bears 'h
nu,prAph signature OF Prince Albert tn pam oompac
htr nave ofercd large sums to be allowed 10 cut Thu
single word OF she page and carry IL away. Al tnn
t;r sn1I were spohr. vieuTiemps aud Thsbers
Hanging upon the wall ~ this room ara various curious
ali wood cuts appropriate ~ she owl ors art one OF
Stradtynrus work shop. bearing the autOSraPh o
Vnillauine the friend aud teacher OF te recipient
Mr. t,emuuder'- talk aDOunds with ADecao'es OF uIo
men famous artists connoisseurs, VINO nave at
different times him out IN hls reIlied nouns 70
secure Information or from friendly interest Que OF
t6o-e who always comes from the latter uotNe -
Wubalni who Is fast friend and IN ardent auLlrrr OF
nuder who Tays one Of his INSTRUMENTS shu VINO
Inck. forward hopefully TO ono day possessing tho
Kaiser violin "a his own. ,,-,-, -
h. ebt,y Herr schriieck. OF Cincinnati, phbllsheu
card Charming discovered the secret q" the ola
la, thutt hay
Mr. C}enunder that proper wood Is necessary loF
tho construction Of successful violin Out tAa must
tho Did Crca4ona masters nhdo their Instruments upOh
ns'Ani Nhtrb ANSWERED better the requirements OF
a.n..tic la,Vu an ANY since discovered