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Canon DSLR Challenge | all galleries >> Challenge 62: Low light or low key (hosts: Victor Engel & Olaf.dk) >> Exhibition > Soundless *
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26-JUL-2004 Pops

Soundless *

EV 3.something

Canon EOS 300D Digital Rebel
30s f/20.0 at 31.0mm iso100 hide exif
Full EXIF Info
Date/Time26-Jul-2004 19:01:27
MakeCanon
ModelCanon EOS DIGITAL REBEL
Flash UsedNo
Focal Length31 mm
Exposure Time30.00 sec
Aperturef/20
ISO Equivalent100
Exposure Bias
White Balance (-1)
Metering Modematrix (5)
JPEG Quality (6)
Exposure Program
Focus Distance

other sizes: small medium original auto
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Guest 01-Mar-2006 13:31
LOL, Victor, I thought that too. But he did do legitimate work on it - tons of work. Somewhere around here I still have all the receipts listing what he did, before and after pictures my mom and I took of the cello, and all the parts of things he took off of it that he replaced with the newer pieces (there was a rather large box of parts he gave me when I picked it up: the old pegs, tailpiece, bridge, etc.)

He charged a small fortune for the instruments that he crafted himself, but for repair, I think he was a bit *too* generous and charged little. Which I suppose wasn't smart for him for business - he was the only man in our city in the field he was in. He could have charged anything he wanted and people would have probably paid it.
Guest 01-Mar-2006 07:22
Excellent. -Michael
Canon DSLR Challenge28-Feb-2006 03:35
My grandfather used to make but mostly remake instruments in the violin family. I'm sure he'd be as intrigued as you about this picture. As to cost, I can't imagine someone having an instrument in the works for three weeks and charging only $90, even 15 years ago, unless most of that was drying time. -- Victor
Canon DSLR Challenge27-Feb-2006 12:43
You didn't - Pops
Guest 26-Feb-2006 19:25
Neat! I hope I didn't come off as sounding abrasive. Beautiful instruments like these just bring that part of me that misses the symphony to life. Thanks for humoring my queries.
Guest 26-Feb-2006 17:03
AJ, when I got the violins I took them to Emil Baran the best violin dealer in the Atlanta area. As I recall they dated it and suspected it was French. Yes, there is a label inside but anybody can paste a label in a violin. This one says, "Gabl. Patrone Repaired 1875 Phil Pa" It's missing the sound post, bridge and strings.

One of the other violins is stamped "Hopf" and another is stamped "Steiner" The third is obviously a low cost factory fiddle.
Victor Engel26-Feb-2006 05:03
EV is 3.7
Guest 26-Feb-2006 04:36
Scratch that thought -- the fingerboard is way too long for the Baroque characteristics.

Sorry for my babbling. I'm absolutely fascinated.
Guest 26-Feb-2006 04:21
PS - what are your thoughts as to it being French? Is there a name inside the violin when you look into the f-holes? The width and shape of the f-holes have me thinking possibly a German maker. When you look at the instrument from the side, do the front and back pieces bow out generously in the center making the violin seem "thicker" than the others? If so, it might be Baroque in style.
Guest 26-Feb-2006 04:18
Great story! That one violin just grabs me. How I'd love to be able to hold that in my hands and really take the time to look it over from scroll to endbutton.

$1500? Wow, I'd get a second opinion on that. I used to live near a violin maker who also repaired string instruments. The cello I currently own (circa 1855) was in horrible condition when I bought it in 1991 and took it to him. Three weeks and $90 later, I had a working, beautiful instrument. And it did require a LOT of work (literally, the thing made me cry looking at it -- it had been in a basement for 30 years and looked like it was rotting away. Somehow he was able to salvage it and turn it into a fine instrument.) He basically gave it a whole body-lift. BUT he did fantastic quality work. Fifteen years later, it's still in wonderful condition, though I don't play it much anymore. Here is my cello: http://www.pbase.com/cslr_challenge/image/36671957

Now I'm not saying that this will only require that little amount of money in repair, I'm just simply trying to give you some perspective.

As for that violin, I suspect it will need a new bridge, tailpiece, possible glueing of the seams, ovbiously new strings (which to get good ones will cost you a pretty penny), aligning of the soundpost inside, and if necessary, though by the looks of it I can't fully say, it might even need resecuring of the fingerboard. As far as the wood, it looks to be in very good shape. What an absolute beauty. I admit I am jealous. :)
Guest 25-Feb-2006 20:03
Thanks AJ. My younger son studied the violin for 12 years and went off to college to major in music composition. He's now a computer geek. My mother bought a "lot" of violins at an estate auction in Detroit in the mid 80s. These four voilins were part of the lot. None of them are in playable condition, they weren't playable when I got them. They are all very old and come from the late 18th or early 19th century. At the same auction there was a lot of 12 bows that sold for over $8,000. So there was some pretty fine instruments in the estate.

The one on top is my favorite. It's probably 18th century French and the purfling is reverse of the normal dark-light-dark. It's wood tones are spectacular. I've thought of having it restored to playable condition but the estimated cost was $1,500 and that was in 1990.

Parting with them? I haven't even thought about that. They seem like old friends to me.

Although all four of my kids are very musically talented, I have none. Playing a CD is about as advanced as I can get.
Guest 25-Feb-2006 15:29
OK, as a musician, I simply must ask you where you shot this? Do these belong to you? The one in the top left hand corner - what kind of violin is that? The varnish, the striped maple sides, the inlaid purfling, and the cut of the f-holes make me think it might at one time been a valuable piece. If it is yours, are you interested in parting with it?

Moving along ;) It's a lovely photo that instantly grabbed me when I saw the thumb. I like the effect of laying the battered bows on them. No doubt those bows and the instruments themselves have seen many a concerto and symphony piece. Beautiful warm tones. I just really like this one.