Expert: Al Dzina - 10/18/2009

Question
Dear Al, my folks have rediscovered a lovely (but soiled) violin that is approx. Seventy years old. The interior states, "Copy of Antonius Stradivarius" I can't find a year or any other information on the violin except for Made in Germany. One other hint: In the case is a paper envelope which has a violin string inside of it. The envelope reads: Trade RAO Mark, Aluminum wound, Patented Sept. 18, 1923. Lic 100. Violin A: A Superior String, H.S. Company, New York. Iguess my question would be, is there someone in the CA Bay Area that could appraise this instrument and are 70 year old copies common? Thank you, Michele

Answer
Hi Michele;
Try one of the following;
CREMONA VIOLIN DEALERS   1254 MARKET ST., #201   SAN FRANCISCO   CA   94102   (415)861-2202   cremonasf@aol.com
GREENWOOD JOHN BOWMAKER   301 CARL ST.   SAN FRANCISCO   CA   94117   (415)664-2624   jgreen415@yahoo.com
IFSHIN VIOLINS   1633 UNIVERSITY AVE.   BERKELEY   CA   94703   (510)843-5466   info@ifshinviolins.com
OLSON DANIEL R. VIOLINS   1345-A Martin Luther King Way   BERKELEY   CA   94709   (510)527-1391   olsonviolins@aol.com
CAO SCOTT, VIOLINS INC.   1860 S. WINCHESTER BLVD   CAMPBELL   CA   95008   (408)378-3665   scaoviolin@aol.com
KAMIMOTO STRING INST.   609 N. 4th ST.   SAN JOSE   CA   95112   (408)298-8168   jonlibows@yahoo.com
STEVENS VIOLIN SHOP   1202 LINCOLN AVE.   SAN JOSE   CA   95125   (408)275-0717   vance@stevensviolinshop.com
Al;