Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 24 N. 18 - Page 39
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
39
THE "SMALL GOODS" TRADE
Superb Collection of Violins.
THE NOTED HAWLF.Y COLLECTION IS IN-
CLUDED IN ITS NUMBERS.
Enormously expensive collections of
rare old violins, made in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries by the distinguished
old masters, are now owned by gentlemen
of wealth in k Europe and in the United
States. By far the largest, most noted,
and most interesting of these valuable
collections, to be found on either continent,
is that possessed by Ralph Granger, of
National City, Southern California, an
amateur violinist and a man of great wealth.
It includes many superb old violins that
have been used for centuries, by the most
eminent violinists the world ever knew, at
grand concerts given in the principal cities
of Europe, the United ^States and South
America.
All of the kings, queens, emperors and
potentates of the world, during the past
300 years, have listened with rapture to
these wondrous violins now in the Ralph
Granger collection, and since 1590 these
violins have appealed most eloquently to
audiences, numbering, in the aggregate,
away up in the millions, both in this
country and in Europe. These collections
of rare old instruments can only be af-
forded by one enjoying a plethoric bank
account, for many a genuine old violin is
worth many times its weight in gold.
The late R. D. Hawley,of Hartford, had
a magnificent and remarkably valuable
collection of genuine old violins, number-
ing twelve. The intrinsic value of the
twelve is $52,000, or an average of $4,333
for each instrument. The noted Hawley
collection, known throughout the United
States and Europe, was purchased in June,
1896, by Ralph Granger, and absorbed
into his magnificent collection, which now
embraces violins made by each of the old
masters and duplicates of some of the most
rare instruments.
One of the earliest makers of violins was
Audrea Amati, who made violins as far
back as 1546, another was Gaspar di Salo,
in Lombardy, 1560-1610. In Cremona,
during the seventeenth century, the Amati
family, Audrea, his sons Jerome and An-
tonio, and Nicolo, the son of the latter,
were famous violin makers. Nicolo, the
most celebrated of all the Amatis, was
born September 3, 1596, and died April 12,
1684, aged 98 years. Antonio Stradiva-
rius, also of Cremona, pupil of Nicolo
Amati, surpassed, if possible, the produc-
tions of the Amatis, and the reputation of
Cremona for violins was maintained by
Guarnerius and Rugerio.
Here is a faint outline of some few of
the rare old violins in the Granger collec-
tion. It would require a book to describe
in detail each of the eloquent instruments
treasured by Ralph Granger. There is a
Nicolo Amati, 1636; a Carlo Bergonzi,
1720; a Lupert, 1764; a Jacobus Stainer,
who was an apprentice to the Amatis and
married into the Amati family. A superb
Guadagnini made by Giovanni Baptista in
1742. Also a Magini, 1590. This is an
exquisite instrument, with double purfling
and the condition of it is quite perfect.
An authentic Magini is among the rarest
of all violins. Another is a Guarnerius
and there is also a Rugerie.
Next come the giants among violins,
the two great Strads. One is dated 1711,
and the other 1722. These are among the
greatest violins in the world. They rep-
resent the work of Antoine Stradivarius in
hisprime and at the fullest maturity of his
talent. Both of these violins are in the
best condition. The scroll of the 1722 vio-
lin is perfect, and its varnish so lustrous
red that it flashes in the sunlight. Joseph
Guarnerius fashioned the violin bearing
date 1741, and there is probably kinship
between this violin and the famous Paga-
nini instrument, judging from the pecu-
liarities of the two.
There is still another wonderful instru-
ment in this remarkable collection. It is
the Great King Joseph. It is a great and
wonderful instrument because it has come
down as perfect and untouched almost as
when it left the workbench. There is no
pollution or contamination about it. It is
a marvel. Immense in color, and volume
of tone. It is the great violin of the world,
the pride of the collection, and the gem of
gems in this vast array of grand old violins.
It represents a value of $10,000. The two
wonderful Strads are valued at $5,000 each,
and the other violins in the unique collec-
tion are each worth various sums down to
$2,500.
Many of the distinguished violinists who
appear in concert in California make a pil-
grimage to National City, thence to Para-
dise Valley, where the beautiful villa of
Ralph Granger is located amid orange and
lemon groves and bowered in roses. This
is a most delightful and appropriate retreat
for the old monarchs of the concert room,
whose tones have subdued the monarchs of
the world, and whose tone to-day—for vio-
lins, like wine, improve with age—contin-
ues to inspire the eminent violin viituosos
who pay their respects to Mr. Granger,
and he always receives them with a royal
welcome and enjoys their inspiriting music
in his alluring and luxurious music room.
Mr. Rossman, Mr. Duchatellier's able
representative, is now on the road in the
interest of the Thibouville-Lamy products.
He is making quite an extended tour and
meeting with gratifying success. He finds
that wherever the firm's instruments have
once been tried, they are firmly installed as
* 'the standard."
The Thibouville=Lamy Brass
Instruments.
Among prominent specialties in the long
list of Thibouville-Lamy products may
justly be mentioned their brass band instru-
ments. The method or system adopted by
this firm in "building up" is elaborate,
but this is absolutely necessary in order to
secure the very best results. For every
kind of instrument a carefully prepared
model is made, presenting the numerous
variations in tube diameters.
This model, according to the tone to be
obtained, determines the exact position
for the mechanism of the valves. This is
essential in order that the lengthening of
the tubes which will accompany the action
of the valves may not occasion any de-
rangements in the accuracy and smooth-
ness of the sound. The model also plays an
important part in every stage of instru-
mental construction.
One test of the firm's products—an in-
fallible proof of superiority—is the per-
ceptibility of their tone in orchestral har-
mony. They can be readily distinguished
because of their power, accuracy, pre-
cision and equality of sound. Emphasis
is laid on these meritorious features in
many of the testimonials voluntarily sent
to Mr. Duchatellier, the firm's American
representative.
John Church Co.
During a visit to the music, musical in-
strument, and merchandise departments
of the John Church Co., in this city, on
Wednesday, Mr. Adams, responding to the
usual question as to news, said that
there was nothing special to note outside
of the fact that the demand for the John
Church instruments was increasing. To
meet this demand, many developments
are being made in stock and factory ar-
rangements, with a view to meeting all
emergencies. The choice of instruments
now on view is not by any means a limited
one. There is a good display at the Fifth
avenue warerooms and every facility for
filling orders promptly is at hand.
The flenzenhauer Guitar=Zither.
The present demand for the Menzenhauer
Guitar-Zither is large. Its growth in pop-
ularity is evident, according to the number
of instruments called for on cash orders.
These orders are not confined to any par-
ticular section of the country, but come
from all parts. Agencies are increasing
everywhere, and the men who are handling
these goods report that there is no difficul-
ty in selling them on their merits. It is
found that purchasers undertake, without
any prompting, to gain recruits, and influ-
ence of this kind is undoubtedly the very
best for agents and, naturally, for manu-
facturers.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
39
THE "SMALL GOODS" TRADE
Superb Collection of Violins.
THE NOTED HAWLF.Y COLLECTION IS IN-
CLUDED IN ITS NUMBERS.
Enormously expensive collections of
rare old violins, made in the sixteenth and
seventeenth centuries by the distinguished
old masters, are now owned by gentlemen
of wealth in k Europe and in the United
States. By far the largest, most noted,
and most interesting of these valuable
collections, to be found on either continent,
is that possessed by Ralph Granger, of
National City, Southern California, an
amateur violinist and a man of great wealth.
It includes many superb old violins that
have been used for centuries, by the most
eminent violinists the world ever knew, at
grand concerts given in the principal cities
of Europe, the United ^States and South
America.
All of the kings, queens, emperors and
potentates of the world, during the past
300 years, have listened with rapture to
these wondrous violins now in the Ralph
Granger collection, and since 1590 these
violins have appealed most eloquently to
audiences, numbering, in the aggregate,
away up in the millions, both in this
country and in Europe. These collections
of rare old instruments can only be af-
forded by one enjoying a plethoric bank
account, for many a genuine old violin is
worth many times its weight in gold.
The late R. D. Hawley,of Hartford, had
a magnificent and remarkably valuable
collection of genuine old violins, number-
ing twelve. The intrinsic value of the
twelve is $52,000, or an average of $4,333
for each instrument. The noted Hawley
collection, known throughout the United
States and Europe, was purchased in June,
1896, by Ralph Granger, and absorbed
into his magnificent collection, which now
embraces violins made by each of the old
masters and duplicates of some of the most
rare instruments.
One of the earliest makers of violins was
Audrea Amati, who made violins as far
back as 1546, another was Gaspar di Salo,
in Lombardy, 1560-1610. In Cremona,
during the seventeenth century, the Amati
family, Audrea, his sons Jerome and An-
tonio, and Nicolo, the son of the latter,
were famous violin makers. Nicolo, the
most celebrated of all the Amatis, was
born September 3, 1596, and died April 12,
1684, aged 98 years. Antonio Stradiva-
rius, also of Cremona, pupil of Nicolo
Amati, surpassed, if possible, the produc-
tions of the Amatis, and the reputation of
Cremona for violins was maintained by
Guarnerius and Rugerio.
Here is a faint outline of some few of
the rare old violins in the Granger collec-
tion. It would require a book to describe
in detail each of the eloquent instruments
treasured by Ralph Granger. There is a
Nicolo Amati, 1636; a Carlo Bergonzi,
1720; a Lupert, 1764; a Jacobus Stainer,
who was an apprentice to the Amatis and
married into the Amati family. A superb
Guadagnini made by Giovanni Baptista in
1742. Also a Magini, 1590. This is an
exquisite instrument, with double purfling
and the condition of it is quite perfect.
An authentic Magini is among the rarest
of all violins. Another is a Guarnerius
and there is also a Rugerie.
Next come the giants among violins,
the two great Strads. One is dated 1711,
and the other 1722. These are among the
greatest violins in the world. They rep-
resent the work of Antoine Stradivarius in
hisprime and at the fullest maturity of his
talent. Both of these violins are in the
best condition. The scroll of the 1722 vio-
lin is perfect, and its varnish so lustrous
red that it flashes in the sunlight. Joseph
Guarnerius fashioned the violin bearing
date 1741, and there is probably kinship
between this violin and the famous Paga-
nini instrument, judging from the pecu-
liarities of the two.
There is still another wonderful instru-
ment in this remarkable collection. It is
the Great King Joseph. It is a great and
wonderful instrument because it has come
down as perfect and untouched almost as
when it left the workbench. There is no
pollution or contamination about it. It is
a marvel. Immense in color, and volume
of tone. It is the great violin of the world,
the pride of the collection, and the gem of
gems in this vast array of grand old violins.
It represents a value of $10,000. The two
wonderful Strads are valued at $5,000 each,
and the other violins in the unique collec-
tion are each worth various sums down to
$2,500.
Many of the distinguished violinists who
appear in concert in California make a pil-
grimage to National City, thence to Para-
dise Valley, where the beautiful villa of
Ralph Granger is located amid orange and
lemon groves and bowered in roses. This
is a most delightful and appropriate retreat
for the old monarchs of the concert room,
whose tones have subdued the monarchs of
the world, and whose tone to-day—for vio-
lins, like wine, improve with age—contin-
ues to inspire the eminent violin viituosos
who pay their respects to Mr. Granger,
and he always receives them with a royal
welcome and enjoys their inspiriting music
in his alluring and luxurious music room.
Mr. Rossman, Mr. Duchatellier's able
representative, is now on the road in the
interest of the Thibouville-Lamy products.
He is making quite an extended tour and
meeting with gratifying success. He finds
that wherever the firm's instruments have
once been tried, they are firmly installed as
* 'the standard."
The Thibouville=Lamy Brass
Instruments.
Among prominent specialties in the long
list of Thibouville-Lamy products may
justly be mentioned their brass band instru-
ments. The method or system adopted by
this firm in "building up" is elaborate,
but this is absolutely necessary in order to
secure the very best results. For every
kind of instrument a carefully prepared
model is made, presenting the numerous
variations in tube diameters.
This model, according to the tone to be
obtained, determines the exact position
for the mechanism of the valves. This is
essential in order that the lengthening of
the tubes which will accompany the action
of the valves may not occasion any de-
rangements in the accuracy and smooth-
ness of the sound. The model also plays an
important part in every stage of instru-
mental construction.
One test of the firm's products—an in-
fallible proof of superiority—is the per-
ceptibility of their tone in orchestral har-
mony. They can be readily distinguished
because of their power, accuracy, pre-
cision and equality of sound. Emphasis
is laid on these meritorious features in
many of the testimonials voluntarily sent
to Mr. Duchatellier, the firm's American
representative.
John Church Co.
During a visit to the music, musical in-
strument, and merchandise departments
of the John Church Co., in this city, on
Wednesday, Mr. Adams, responding to the
usual question as to news, said that
there was nothing special to note outside
of the fact that the demand for the John
Church instruments was increasing. To
meet this demand, many developments
are being made in stock and factory ar-
rangements, with a view to meeting all
emergencies. The choice of instruments
now on view is not by any means a limited
one. There is a good display at the Fifth
avenue warerooms and every facility for
filling orders promptly is at hand.
The flenzenhauer Guitar=Zither.
The present demand for the Menzenhauer
Guitar-Zither is large. Its growth in pop-
ularity is evident, according to the number
of instruments called for on cash orders.
These orders are not confined to any par-
ticular section of the country, but come
from all parts. Agencies are increasing
everywhere, and the men who are handling
these goods report that there is no difficul-
ty in selling them on their merits. It is
found that purchasers undertake, without
any prompting, to gain recruits, and influ-
ence of this kind is undoubtedly the very
best for agents and, naturally, for manu-
facturers.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).