Books › The violin : how to choose one, 1893 › scan 47
Scan 47
The violin : how to choose one, 1893
4 lines. Read by computer on 28 September 2026. Printed page 43. See the scan on archive.org.
1I took it out of the case and tried the tone, and wondered how any one with a trained ear could ever have been in doubt, for the tone was full of "wood," and the violin certainly not more than 50 years old. The varnish was quite common, and a good deal scaled off, and the violin not unlike one of those copies made by Crask, of Manchester, or possibly by Jacob Fendt. The ticket also was transparently spurious, as I proved to him by comparison with two genuine labels, dated 1714 and 1717. Still he was not convinced, and I took him to the music rooms of a young professional player who is privileged to play upon two first-class Strads, but as we could not see him we left the violin, without a word, for his inspection. As we turned away, I said—"Now, Mr. Sanguine, when we go back you will find his first words will be, 'It's not a Strad?'" When we did get back we found that he had taken out the violin and tried it, but he did nothing but discant on the beauty of the bow (a fine Dodd), which he offered to buy. "But what do you think of the violin?" was the owner's impatient remark. "Oh, it's very good, but, of course, it's not a Strad," was the answer, and I fear that to this day Mr. Sanguine believes that I secretly prompted the words. The full value of the violin was not above £5.
3Another case amused me greatly. A broker had an old violin in his window for which he would gladly have taken 10s., as it had cost him only a few shillings. There was no price marked on the instrument; but it chanced that above it was hung a silver watch marked £5, and the ticket from that had fallen down and lay on the top of the violin. One day a gentleman stopped at the window, looked at the violin long and earnestly, and then went in and said—"You have a violin in the window marked £5—let me see it, please." The broker started and examined the window; noticed the mistake of the fallen ticket, but said nothing, and showed the violin. "I'll give you £4 for it," said the gentleman, who seemed to know what he was about. Instantly the broker scented the secret, and promptly declined to take less than £5. No bargain was made, and the broker took the violin out of the window intending to get my opinion of its value, but in a few days back came the gentleman and said—"Will you not take less than £5 for that old fiddle?" "No," answered the broker. "I am not to sell it at all now." "I'll give you £7, 10s. for it," said the stranger, getting excited. Again the
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