About L. Dalton Potter Expertise I have been involved in the violin trade for over 28 years. I am currently the President of The Potter Violin Company in Bethesda, MD. I can offer clients initial advice on the value, authenticity and quality of almost all bowed string instruments (violins, violas, cellos & basses) using good quality digital photos. I would decline to give final evaluations without examining instruments in person.
Experience Experience in Music Business: Charlie Byrd's Music House; 1977 - 1980
Senior violin technician: Violin House of Weaver; 1980 - 1996.
President: The Potter Violin Company; 1996 - Present
Organizations: Founding member;String Industry Council, Violin Society of America, American String Teachers Association, Guild of American Luthiers,
Suzuki Association of America, Publications; Journal of the American String Teacher's Association, American Suzuki Journal Education/Credentials;Berklee College of Music 1974 - 1977
Awards and Honors: Chester J. Patranek Award for Excellence in the Music Industry
Traugott Rohner Leadership in the Music Industry Award
(26 years of service - too many to list)
Expert: L. Dalton Potter Date: 5/6/2008 Subject: LOOKING FOR VALUE OF VIOLIN
Question MY FATHER BORN IN 1912 HAD THIS VIOLIN WHEN HE WAS IN HIS TWENTIES , SO IT HAS TO BE OLDER THAN THAT-- I DO NOT KNOW WHERE HE GOT IT
INSIDE THE VIOLIN IS STAMPED MADE IN GERMANY
VIOLIN RUANARIUS 1743
JUST WONDERING IF IT HAS ANY VALUE OTHER THAN OUR SENTIMENT BECAUSE IT WAS MY FATHERS
THANK YOU MARIA ZAZA
Answer Hi Maria,
Without seeing it, it's very hard for me to attach a specific value to an instrument. Most likely, Because the "Country of Origin" clause in the GATT treaty (The General Agreement on Tariff and Trade) was established after the founding of the League of Nations in 1918, the instrument was produced in the 1920's when Germany was a mass-producer of good-quality student instruments. These tend to be in the range between $200 up to as much as $1200, depending upon quality and condition. I may be able to clarify things further if you can e-mail me good quality, well-lit digital photos at: mailus@pottersviolins.com
