More “Strads”

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 96, 17 January 1935, Page 11

More “Strads”

Sir, —I n reference to the . supposed * “Strad” recently discovered in Wellington, I have three of them. As a matter of fact, there are a number in this village—quite a dozen. One of the standing jokes among expert fiddle players, is the way we amateurs hug the delusion that because we have violins bearing the label “Antonius Stradivarius Cremonenis,’ tlie instruments must be genuine “Strads.” Toward the end of last ceiitury there lived in Newman Street (off Oxford Street, London) an old German, who repaired violins. I showed him my “Strad,” and I nearly dropped dead when he told me my precious instrument <vas worth about 10/- in Germany, where, he said, thousands of like fiddles were being made every day. I subsequently learned that making “Strads” was the Fatherland’s first attempt at mass production. Some years ago I read an article in an English newspaper which stated that there were only five known, genuine “Strads” in existence. Now, if St. Patrick’s College, Silverstream, has one, the garage proprietor another, and I three, all five are accounted for; though I am inclined to think tlie writer of the article made a mistake when he said there were five —the number is three, and I've got them all I The others must be Jakes. No. 1 in my collection is dated 1705, No. 2 1716. and No. 3 I cannot swear to the figures, because a brat of a boy some years ago scraped part of the label out — tlie little heretic. But it is a real, up-to-date “Strad.” take it from me.—l am, etc., „, T.J. Halcorabe, January 12.