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: 5/16/2008 Subject: violin i have
Question Hello,
I have acquired what appears to be a dated violin. I was hoping you could help me estimate how old it is and approximate worth. Its condition is somewhat unkept but appears to be all original. Here are some markings from inside
Antonious Stradivarious Cremonensis
Faciebat Anno 1753
Made in Germany
then there is another stamp that I think says Bruno New York
Answer Hi there Matt,
I apologize for not having esponded to your inquiry sooner. My business requires that I travel frequntly and I am unable to get to my emails regularly. J. Bruno and Sons were importers of German student instruments until the beginning of WWII. Most of the instruments I have seen from them were of the Dresden model of Stradivarius and Amati copies. Depending upon the condition, these violins can range from three or four hundred up to as much as 1000.
They tend to develop cracks in the top and those can cut the value by as much as one-half.
Hope this helps!
Dalton Potter
