Books › Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896 › scan 148
Scan 148
Famous violinists and fine violins : historical notes, anecdotes, and reminiscences, 1896
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 128. See the scan on archive.org.
1"And what was the meaning of it, my dear brother?"
3"Well, here is the translation on this bit of paper, as I wrote it down from Techler's dictation: 'This instrument is made by G. R., violin-maker at Erfurt, in the year 1786, strictly upon the model of A. S., Cremona.'"
5"Oh, my dear George, how very extraordinary."
7"Techler tells me that A. S. certainly stands for Antonio Stradivari, already at that date celebrated throughout Europe; and one of his violins was, if possible, always procured, or borrowed, by German makers as a model to work upon."
9"Only just fancy! And this is a violin equal to any Stradivarius that was ever made!"
11"Yes, Bertha; and I have no doubt that hundreds of fine violins have been made in Germany by excellent conscientious workmen, who spared no pains to make their work as perfect as possible, though barely able to subsist by it. And what is more, hundreds of these superior instruments are now sold in Europe and America as 'Cremona violins,' at enormous prices. I tell you the Cremona craze is pure madness. I wonder whether Walker will renew his offer of £500 for it. Shall I give him the opportunity?"
13"Oh, George, how can you think of such a thing! No, my dear brother, never part with that violin; you could never replace it. Whoever the
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.