Rescue Violins: The Violin Rescue Centre

What I never first realised as I initially set about fixing it is that this instrument is probably a genuine baroque violin (probably 18th century); the fingerboard being a fair bit shorter and the back being noticeably flatter and other proportions different to a Strad model.  The purfling on the violin is simply drawn on and would have been done using a goose quill and ink. At some point in time - a long time ago by the looks of it - an expert luthier added a small wedge under the fingerboard, which was likely done in the C19th to elevate the fingerboards of older baroque violins to be closer to the steeper angle of  a Stradivari model. But the neck is genuine and there is no graft. The steeper angle increases the tension of the strings across the bridge and so make the instrument louder. Usually when this was done a longer Stradivarius fingerboard was added. But not in the case of this particular violin. A very long time ago a small wedge was expertly fitted to the neck, to elevate

Most Maidstone violins have an oval label depicting two girls dancing. Murdoch, who imported most of his Maidstone violins from the Saxony area of Germany in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, later involved his son in the company. Hence the later models were labelled "Murdoch and Murdoch and Co.  There are the typical oval labels bearing the simple name Murdoch and Co and later ones as "Murdoch and Murdoch and Co. As far as I know, all the square ones simply say Murdoch and Co just like the one in the picture below. Some experts claim the square labeled violins are best. Rumours exist that some Maidstone violins were made in what was then named Czecho-Slovakia (Bohemia) and even France. Moreover, that not all Murdoch violins were Maidstone's. I own another square labelled Maidstone violin that I repaired. I must say it beats into the ground all my oval labelled Maidstone's - using the same strings ( Thomas Infeld Vienna, Alphayou - synthetic core strings). Here

 I hide glued, clamped and then varnished the back of this violin. Manby violins seem to have a tenancy for the back seam to open. I am not sure why. But is is a definite characteristic of these lovely instruments. Even after gluing and clamping the seem can give the appearance of not being totally closed when it is. I guarantee the repair to this one for my lifetime. Fixing an open backseam is in fact an incredibly simple process so long as you have the correct equipment an know how to use it.

 One for sale here has the same label with the serifs in the font and same trademark. Dates it as 1920's. Archived advert:  https://archive.is/rIoS2 The ebayer is Fine Violins:  https://www.ebay.co.uk/usr/fineinstruments?_trksid=p2047675.l2559  (archived:  https://archive.is/0gH3y ) . 

 The eBay add is achieved here:  https://archive.is/ZQ00g They wanted £170 for it.We haggled and I bought it today for £90. I am going to use my repair method that I used in the Mirecourt 3/4 size fake. Only this time I will also use parchment to repair.

Not all violins that are beaver tooth carved with bass bars hurriedly carved out from the violin's table are Saxony (German) violins. This is a Maggini pattern full size violin made after WWI, when the official spelling of Czecho-Slovakia with a hyphen was first used in 1919. The hyphen was dropped in 1945.  This is a typical Bohemia "trade violin", made for students.  The instrument is well used and has suffered a lot of hard treatment. It is quite light in weight and narrow in the bouts. Perfectly suited for a smaller teenager or adult. The red varnish is chipped and chaffed and scratched in many places. This violin has been played a great deal.  This violin has a flamed maple back, sides and neck. The table is fairly close grained spruce, widening slightly towards the edges. This antique student violin also has traditional Maggini double purfling on the top and back.  Like so many Saxony (German) factory violins of the 19th and early 20th century this Bohemia instrumen

 Maidstone violins bearing the "orchestral association" label have been said to be the worst. I agree.  Here is one with what appears to be a pine back on eBay 26/03/2021  : Archived  https://archive.is/UXvNl Maidstone 4/4 violin. Condition is "Used". Dispatched with Royal Mail 1st Class. Nice old fiddle. Label reads Maidstone School Orchestra Association London EC. It comes with an old Barnes and Mullins hard case, unusual shape and good condition for its age.  The colour on the back of the fiddle seems faded , not sure if it shows on the photo but it doesn't affect anything. I was going to put it up for a higher price but when I tuned it I found the A string peg kept slipping.  My luthier charges £10 per peg to change but I can't get to him at present. So if you buy it you have to be aware of this peg slippage. Other than that, it's a good solid instrument priced fairly.   It will be carefully packed and sent first class with tracking.