Books › Violins, old & new, 1887 › scan 26
Scan 26
Violins, old & new, 1887
6 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 22. See the scan on archive.org.
1ridiculed it as a vile imitation. But prejudice, though it can stop men's ears against the entrance of common sense, can never alter facts; and if the decriers of modern work are willing to submit to a practical test, we will suggest one for their consideration and approval. Let ten or twelve "STRADS." or "JOSEPHS" be brought together, and also one specimen by GEMUNDER, of New York, and one by JOHN DAY, of London; let all be played in succession, out of sight, and we will ask them to point out the "DAY" or the "GEMUNDER" when its turn comes. If their theory is correct, and modern work cannot be made to equal the old in quality of tone, they ought to be able to distinguish, without possibility of error, and without actual inspection, the new from the old. We confess we should like much to see the experiment made; and although we have not asked MR. DAY'S opinion, or that of HERR GEMUNDER, on the point, we are sure neither would hesitate to submit his work to such a test. MR. GEMUNDER has written a book on this subject,* which contains some statements calculated to startle the members of the "old school" quite out of their propriety. The question will have to be settled one way or the other, for it is either true or false that violins have been made within the last ten years which have, so to speak, deceived the very elect.
3We offer to "the elect," who cannot believe in old
5* "George Gemünder's Progress in Violin Making." Published by the Author, price 10s.
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.