New-York tribune., 1912-04-21
ACQUIRING A GUADAGNINl.


Mr.. Sentins Guadagninl was brought
from Italy to California by Italians who
went 10 the Golden State TO work in gold
mines They sold the instrument to man
whose name has been lost, but who sold IL
to Professor Thompson, Of Mount Reed
Col. This man was something Of violin
expert. but he allowed another passion to
displace his enthusiasm for the melodlous
instrument lie acquired gold mine, and.
not having money to work II. he deter
mined TO sell his Guadagnini. He must
have been hard up indeed. or else good
wheelman, for lie strapped the violin on his
back and went TO the Pan-American Expo
sltIon at Buffalo on his bicycle. There he
met Mr. Sentlff and the deal was made.
Another OF the Rochester mans posses
slons is identified by the following mark:
"JacObus Stainer. in Absam, prope Oeni-
pontum, 1916" showing that Jacob Stalner
Q62l-l6SO made the violin at twenty-five
years OF age al Absam near Hall. Tirol.
This master and his school rank next TO
the Cremonese makers in the opinion OF the
connolsseurs. His designs and general
workmanship were followed BY German and
Englsn WdheIh no was su'NSt'Su W
Matthias Klotz and his sons,
A VIOLIN WITHOUT PRICE.
Mr.. sentlr values his GuadagnIni more
than any OF the others. He points with
evident satisfaction to the fact that this
particular instrument was the first pro-
duced by the maker after he set up for
himself Under photograph of the Niolh
I'm an American publication occurs this ap-
probation: "lt is the queen Of all Strads.
Its estimated value has been given by eX-
perts as twice its weight in diamonds and
as muchf more as any person Is willing TO
pay for II. Its value has no limit as a
relic" a "Strad" is a violin made by a
pupil OF Stradlvari. The instrument IS said
TO have a wonderfully broad tone and.
with a mellow quality, it possesses dy-
mamie OF uncommon degree.
The owner told a reporter who visited his
home that he had sent his Stradivari and
his stainer downtown for safekeeping. but
he felt there was no place but his own
home for keeping the Amatis and Guadag-
mini lie takes great pleasure in showing
tbese treasures TO his friends and those
who appreciate rare violins. He told the
reporter that, while he couldn't play the
violin. he found no common pleasure In
inst picking the strings and listening to the
sounds thrown out by the handiwork Of
the long dead masters.
next In Mr.. sentiffs affection comes the
AhatI but while there is a difference in
degree in his feeling toward them, he car
rles them I'm one case. The Amati violns
are said TO possess a peculiar quality OF
"f.mInIne delcacy" In their tone while the
stradiyaris have some Of this quality along
With n certain "masculinity."
SECRET OF VIOLIN SUPERIORITY.
Mr. sentiff said that the main feature Of
,boae rare Italian violins was the varnish
NTH which they were saturated. This, he
claims, is the principal secret OF their SUI
neriority over those OF other times and
Countries II might also be mentioned In
this connection that Stradivari introduced
soms distinct features which gave him
Tod over his forerunners. One Of these Is
49,. bass bar. a piece OF wood placed In
Ia. ,ba violin from the bridge I'm the centre
-, ,ho upper end. This invention greatly
modified the tone
While these features mag "' .'P'TN ~
modern makers, Mr.. sentiff claims that
hut few do So He himself has been study
inc the art OF stradivari for several years.
and saws that he uses the bass bar as well
90 other notifications. He has also been
worls,ng on a varnlsh for long time ana
links that he has found one that gives MS
instruments a fine tone INT,
Mr.. sentfr is well past the meridian ,.'' o.
life and during greater part ot his days
10 has followed picture frame gliding and
hordwood ho finishing for a living. He says
his chief pastime has been the making OF
'',o,,ns and experimentation In varnishes'
~ has been resident Of Rochester for
- vears and was born in Oneida
County. 49,, ,,o,,,.
In speaking Of the value Of these "olns'