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: 5/2/2008 Subject: Violin Value (?)
Question Dear Mr. Potter:
I have read many of your question and answers and now would like to add my own question. My dad has a violin purchased by his father for him when he was a yound child in 1939 for the large (then) amount of $400. I have a copy of an original letter that still accompanies this 1/2 size violin. I believe the scroll was replaced at some point before this purchace. I do not have an "dendochronology" but this letter does mention the wood used and it's finish. Currently the only stress it bears is the fact that Grandfather removed the bow's hairs.
I have tried to copy and print the scanned version of this letter in hopes you can enlighten me. Please review the following and see if it is enough information to suggest interest or not. Thank you in advance. I can get digital pics but it may take a week or two. See below...
HILL & SONS BOWS & ACCI:SSORII:S
OLD VIOLINS, VIOLAS AND 'CRLOS
THE RUDOLPH WURLlTZER CO. 120 WEST 42nd STREET
NEW YORK, N. Y.
November 24, 1939.
Mr. Benjamine Klaynik,
713 East 92nd Street,
Chicago, Illinois.
Dear Sir:
WE CERTIFY that the half size Violin, bearing our re¬gistered number 8 2 6 5, purchased by you at our Chicago office October 6, 1939, was made, in our opinion, by Andreas KEMPTER
in Bavaria about 1776, as indicated by the label it bears.
DESCRIPTION: The back is formed by one piece of maple with small
indistinct figure, extending down from left to right across its breadth. The sides are of nicel3" figured maple. The table is of one piece of pine with ir¬regular open grain. The scroll is German of about 1880-90. The varnish is original and of a dark reddish brown color.
MEASUREMENTS: Length 12 3/8"
Width Upper bouts 5 3/4"
Width Middle bouts 3 15/16”
Width Lower bouts 7”
At any time you may desire to exchange this violin for a more expensive instrument of the same character or of larger - size, provided the instrument selected is our property, we shall be pleased to allow you, on account of the purchase price, the full value of your violin, as at that time appraised by our appraisal department.
Thanking you for your patronage, we are
Very Truely Yours,
THE RUDOLPH WURLITZER CO.
JCF:LH
Answer Good Morning Karen,
I apologize for not having gotten back to you sooner. It is such a pleasure to have a a question from someone so thorough and with such a well-documented instrument! If you are not already aware of it, having papers from the Wurlitzer Company is as close to the "gold standard" as you can get! So many of today's expert were trained in their workshops and their legacy of quality and integrity is one that sets the benchmark for American Violin shops today. It would not be an exaggeration to assert that Rembert Wurlitzer and his company started the "Golden Age of American Violinmaking" that still continues to this day.
That being said, it is also true that the information age has created some breakthroughs in terms of specialized information being more widely available and so the thinking is that even instruments with certification such as yours need to be re-evaluated periodically. This means a trip to one of the major shops - I can certainly recommend one in your area. Typically, they would issue an updated "insurance evaluation" and reconfirm the validity of your exiting documents.
As far as valuing your instrument is concerned, my opinion is that a full size Kempter violin in perfect condition (no cracks or repairs of any kind), might be in the 20K range in today's dollars. The question of market value versus insurance value comes into play more prominently when it comes to fractional size (1/2 size) violins. Because the average student is only in this size for a period of two years, many parents are reluctant to spend large sums on a small size instrument unless the student is extraordinarily gifted and they are of means and be able to make such a decision. (I find it interesting that this was true even in 1939 - notice the trade-in guarantee that the company offers - just like my shop does today!) This puts downward pressure on the market value of the smaller instruments but I would venture a guess (without seeing it) that it would still be in the $6,000 - $8,000 range. I would love to see pictures when you get a chance.
One final note; I am enchanted by the implication that your great-grandparents thought so highly of their little boy's abilities and loved him so much that they would spend such an extraordinary sum on his violin during a period in history when the world didn't take children very seriously and was also in the tail-end of a horrible economic downturn and facing war and madness on every front. It is my hope that such a gesture has a left legacy of love and respect for accomplishment in your family that will continue for generations..
