Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1922-09-07
GENUINE STRAD
RIDDLES WORTH
UP TO $4,000
BY Frederick j. Hnsl,in.

Washington, D. C. Sept G.
The other day. a jubilant gentle
man carrying a violin case walked
into large music store and asked
to see the head of the violin de-
partment.
81 have here a Stradivarius vio-
lln," he explained, triumphantlv
removing the instrument from its
case and holding it aloft so that
all might be privileged to gaze
thereon. I'm told they're very
rare and bring big prices. and 1
would like to know just what
would be considered a fair price
for this one. I've already received
an offer Of $500 for it, but friend
Of mine who is a violinist says
that is much too little"
The clerks looked politely inter
ested, but they did not seem i'm
pressed. Presently the head of
the violin department appeared
and picked up the violin. There
was noticeable lack Of enthus.
iasm in his manner as he exam
ined it.
How did you get the instru-
ment?" he asked.
why, it was among my de-
ceased unclc's effects which were
recently turned over to me-" eX-
planned the proud owner. "The old
gentleman used to play on it a
good deal, but he had no idea of
its real value. Neither had l I'M
til l happened to see the name of
Stradivari in the inside. Then
remembered hearing somewhere
that old violins of that make were
valuable"
"But did you not see this?" in
CURED the violin expert pointing
to fine imprint at the base which
read, Made in Germany" "You
did? Well. that little mark proves
beyond question that your violin
is not genuine Stradivarius, even
if the Indifferent workmanship
did not do so. Genuine Strads are
not made in Germany. This vio-
lin, | regret to say, is not valuable.
It is probably not worth more than
When the erstwhile jubilant gen
tleman had departed in great de-
lection Of spirit, the violin expert
said: 1--WE are always having to
take the joy out OF life like that.
| am compelled to disappoint many
people every year. The ignorance
Of the public on the subject OF
violins is incredible. People who
are not otherwise easily fooled al
low themselves to be completely
taken in by newly printed Stradi-
various or Guarnerius labels in
side their violins.. This man who
was just here was fortunate. He
had the violin bequeathed to him.
He did not pay thousands for it,
which many persons do"
Labels May Lie.
AS matter of fact, he said, the
label is one of the least import
ant things to be considered in de-
termining the value of a violin.
The main points of interest are the
lines Of the instrument, the wood,
the varnish, the SCROLL the + holes.
the Characteristic tone of the in
strument, the general character Of
The Workmanship and the many
little manherisms characteristic of
The maker. There is a strong sug-
gestion of boldness and pow err
about the violins made by Joseph
for instance. that IS al
together lacking in the fine, sweet
.oned instruments of ! Nicholas J
Amati another of the famous cid !
italian masters.
1t is a simple mater to- procure |
we'll executed counterfeit labels !
nd paste them in any violin, much |
sasier than it is to forge the sig /
nature of a famous artist. When |
3lackened by a little dust they will |
EASILY deceive the layman, Yet in |
he case of the cheaper violins, |
here is no intent to deceive. The
abels are pasted M by modern
makers merely as trade marks or
o indicate the model of the vio-
inf it is a copy of a Stradi-
yarius, Guarnerius or some other
famous make. Many of these in
,truments, as in the incident al
'eady described. are also frankly
abeled "Made in Germany"
While this form OF labelling is
we'll known to all persons acquaint-
d with the making of violins and
heir history, it arouses many !.
alse hopes in the unenlightened.
In one instance, family in a
mall New York town discovered \
IN old violin in their attic. l.
vas creaky with age and badly
battered, but there was great eX-
,itement when it was found to 4
lave the name of Anthony Stradi-
,ari in it. The opinion of the To-
al fiddlers was solicited and they 4
seconded the view that it was IN
Iced a genuine Strad. One of them
wen got himself disliked by offer
ng the family only $500 for the
instrument. News Of the marvel