Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1921-09-23
FIND SECRET OF OLD
VIOLIN MASTER, LOST
FOR OVER ZOO YEARS
Can Now Finish instruments as Did the
Famous oremona Master 200 Years
Ago--For Many Years Violin Makers
Have Been Searching for the Secret
Process by Which StradiVarius Var.
nshed His Violins--Banker Has Not
Disclosed His Secret.

Lost for more than 200 years, the
secret process by which StradyariuS
vanished violins is claimed 10 have
been rediscoyered by Fred \. Horn, a
banker ut Laomi, Ill, who in his
leisure hours manufactures inStru-
mcnts as nearly as he can like like
those of the italian master.
His vlollnS are in demand in Spring
field AT substantial prices. but Mr.. Horn
is not in the business Of making VIC
Inns. He does ii only for the pleasure
it gives him, and he works at II only
as he pleases. For years he labored
his friends say, completing violins, var
nishcd ana unvarniShed, touching his
bow string to one, and then to another
forever listening with critical ear TO
the qualities of sound
Banker Works in Shop.
Lately he announced he believed
that at last he had found 1.-THE secret
process of the maker OF Cremonas.
which other violin makers for 200
years have sought in vain. Mr.. Horn
has demonstrated the qualities Of his
improved instrument TO few friends,
but has not yet submitted it to jury
Of critics
His workshop at Laomi is a small
comfortable shed near his home. where
slabs Of wood hang from the ceiling
After banking hours. when the spirit
moves him, Mr. Horn enters his work
shop and builds q fire Then he sits
down, he says, and waits for slab to
speak 80 him. "Take me-" a slab up
peals, "and see what you can DO" Mr. /
Horn says lie hears one say.
That one he takes down and starts I.
the process which has produced iuStru- |
ments of beauty, pretty as picture /
local orchestra leaders say. which .
stand comparison with the best made !
Of modern fiddleS.
Mr. Horn has not disclosed the proc
ess he says he has reaiscOvered, nor I
the manner by which he found it.
Varnish Secret Lost.
The search he has quietly conducted +.
has been the common search Of many /
violin makers Different and contra
dictory theories have been advanced
from time to time to explain Cremona
varnish. 1t was in use only from 1850
to 1850. After that ii would seem to
have vanished as completely and mys-
teriously as it appeared
One Of the many theories advanced I.
is that successive and superimposed /.
coats Of oil and spirit varnish were
applied by Stradivarius Most makes
now are finished with oil varuish
alone
Importance of the varnish is not
over-estimated by Mr. Horn. 1t is en-.
phaslzed ii various books on the sub
ject, ana especially in Groves Diction-
airy Of Music.
at was the understanding Of the re-
lationship between perfect proportions
and pliahle protective covering that
clings to The wood and yibrates with II,
that made Stradiyarius' violins so
transcendentally superior TO all /
others" says the dictionary "What .
were the component parts Of the var
nlah employed by Cremona's famous /
luther it Is impossible TO say. Two !
hundred years have passed since their /.
application period long enough for
The gums. resins, and diiutenta to have |
become oxydlZed beyond the reach Of /
Quantitive or qualitative analysis.
"a