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: 5/13/2008 Subject: Stradivarius Cremonenfis Faciebat Anno 1711
Question Hi, I have a violin which has a sticker inside saying "Stradivarius Cremonenfis Faciebat Anno 1711" with a stamp. However it doesn't say where it was made as other people in this website have been asking.I've got this violin more than 20 years ago from my violin teacher at that time, and he told me he bought it from another teacher who used this as his second (sub)violin. I'm in Tokyo and a Japanese, and have no idea where this violin originally came from. Do you know where these copies without "made in ~" came from?
Answer Hello Sayaka,
As you know, the sticker on the inside is almost meaningless other than to denote the MODEL from which the violin was copied . I will say that although the pre-war German violins outnumber them, there were a large number of nice quality Strad copies made in pre-war Japan. The story, as I understand, it was that Japan and Germany had a trade agreement that included some German violin-makers coming to Japan an starting a workshop there using Japanese materials. The workmanship is usually quite nice, and they very much resemble German violins of the same period with the exception of the wood not being European. Occasionally, there is a small sticker in the treble side, inside of the instrument that has a "triscel" or three-sided design, which later became the symbol of the Suzuki Violin company from Nagoya. Perhaps this is what you have. Without photos, I cannot tell you more. (dalton@pottersviolins.com)
I hope this helps you, and thank you for using AllExperts.com
Dalton Potter
Hi Sayaka,
You are correct. The difference between the pre-war "Nippon" violins and the contemporary Suzuki violins is a big as the difference a Nike sneaker and a frying pan! These older instruments are, for all appearances, a German Strad copy and they made many thousand of them.
They have very clean workmanship, and beautiful transparent reddish brown or amber varnish. The only ways to tell the difference is by looking at the "rays" (or radial grain) in the maple; there are subtle difference between Asian maple and European varieties and also the scrolls show very slight, almost invisible chisel marks (they did not use sandpaper).
