Books › The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925 › scan 23
Scan 23
The reminiscences of a fiddle dealer, 1925
8 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Introduction
3as solo instruments is more widely recognised.
5No record remains of his sales between 1880 and 1897 but his son states that his business greatly increased in that period. He was offered £2,000 for the "Alard" Strad. and refused it, not because he considered this too low a price, but he could not bring himself to part with the instrument. The occasion of the offer was when the late Dr. Joachim reached his fiftieth birthday and a number of his admirers, knowing that he coveted the "Alard" above all other violins, thought £2,000 would assuredly secure it, and give them the pleasure of presenting it to him. In this they were disappointed—they did present him with a fine Strad. but not the "Alard."
7Exceptional instruments of course realise exceptional prices—they must be of the grand or best period of their maker and without blemish. If one gets a chance to obtain a genuine well-preserved Italian instrument, it is a very safe investment whatever the price asked. No slump will take place in them, and when the numerous amateurs and artistes in the U.S.A. learn what the tone of a really good Italian fiddle is, their prices will probably further advance. The high tariff on musical instruments going into the States has no doubt hindered the importation of violins.
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