AboutAl Dzina Expertise I can answer questions about violin and guitar making and restoration. I will not answer questions about playing these instruments, because I am a maker, not a player.
Experience I was trained in violin making in Germany and have been working at this craft for sixty years.
Expert: Al Dzina Date: 8/22/2008 Subject: Johann Urlich Fichtl 1763
Question QUESTION: My friend has found some violins, one plated with "Johann Urlich Fichtl 1763". None of them are in playing condition, the strings are bad & some missing - we are curious for any information you can give us...they are still beautiful "decorations" & it makes one wonder how they came to be in our north country. The other has an Italian name dated 1814, a third, fourth and a mandolin. If you can give us info or are curious for the rest of the makers, etc - I will be happpy to provide, I just didn't want to bother you since they aren't in playing condition - we are most curious about the oldest. Thank you.
ANSWER: Hi Carolyn;
Send me your City & State and I shall attempt to send you to a shop that can help.
Al;
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QUESTION: Thank you for responding so quickly - We are in Watertown, NY (near Sackets Harbor, the 1000 Islands region - 30 miles from the Canadian border and 1 hrs drive south to Syracuse)
ANSWER: Hi Carolyn;
Try one of the following:
HOSMER VIOLINS 120 JULIAN PL. SYRACUSE NY 13210 (315)446-1990 hosviolins@msn.com
HERMAN DAVID VIOLIN MAKER 1511 DIEMAN LN. EAST MEADOW NY 11554 (516)292-8994 spherman28@aol.com
KOLSTEIN SAMUEL & SON 295 FOXHURST RD. BALDWIN NY 11510 (516)546-9300 bkolstein@kolstein.com
TULHINSKY ALEXANDER VIOLINS 85 NASSAU AVE. PLAINVIEW NY 11803 (516)937-3737 alexisviolins@msn.com
FRIRSZ NICHOLAS VIOLINS 24 PINE ROBIN RD. GREENFIELD CT. NY 12833 (518)893-2424 nick@frirsz.com
STRING INST. LTD. 10 GIBBS ST. STE 300 ROCHESTER NY 14604 (585)262-2121 ssignor699@aol.com
SULLIVAN VIOLINS 1 GROVE ST. STE. 203 PITTSBURGH NY 14534 (585)381-8850 kensullivan@frontiernet.net
GRIFFIN MICHAEL, LUTHIER CARE 166 SELBORNE CHASE FAIRPORT NY 14450 (585)425-1803 NEM
HUGGIER VIOLINS 471 WELLWOOD AVE. LINDENHURST NY 11757 (631)226-8185 hugglermusic@optonline.net
WRONA'S HOUSE OF VIOLINS 902 ESCARPMENT DR. LEWISTON NY 14092 (716)297-2263 mikewrona@aol.com
MONICAL WILLIAM & SON INC. 288 RICHMOND TER. STATEN ISLAND NY 10301 (718)816-7878 wimonical05@earthlink.net
REGH JOSEPH VIOLINS 36 SHERWOOD HEIGHTS Wappingers Falls NY 12590 (845)297-2521 REGHJ@aol.com
Al;
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QUESTION: Thank you Al, I will. Hosmer in Syracuse is the closest for me. Can you tell me if a Fichtl violin is worth the effort - I like it because of it's age, but is it in anyway special due to it's age? From what I can tell, Fichtl was one of hundreds - with no outstanding qualities.
Meanwhile, I'll contact Hosmer - Thank you so much.
Answer Hi Carolyn;
There are many Fichtl members, you are right. But the name Johann Ulrich Fichtl belongs to just three. Number 2 fits into your date of 1763. He has no info. on when he was born or died but he worked between 1750 and 1769. Auction info. between $395 - $3,540. Let the condition and tone determine it's worth.
Al;
