Imperial Violin ca. 1865

This is the "Imperial Violin", about which I am hard pressed to find anything regarding its origins. I was told it was about 120 yrs old when I bought it in 1975. I saw another one of its cousins under repair on my luthier's bench a few years ago. He remarked that it was only one he had ever come across, besides mine. I have seen a few on Ebay over the years --- but never accompanied by any information as to origin or history.

The table is very finely grained spruce. It was removed by my luthier in 1998 for extensive crack repair on both bass and treble sides. The repair was successful, resulting in the restoration of the old rich, woody sound it originally had. The two piece back is a piece of shimmering maple that changes the focus of the rays at an incredible angle of penetration into the wood

Bushing was performed on both cheeks, bored so precisely that they are hardly noticed. The company logo is burned neatly onto a crest at the back of the head

The neck set is at the proper height for volume and playability. The ribbing has a slightly pitted texture to the grain.

A closer look at the star logo on the button and the back of the head

All the seems are right and tight

The top plate is about medium thickness. Ab. R. the worst crack had to be filled a bit for continuity.

Edgeware is apparent at more than a few spots

MEASURMENTS
body: 14 1/4" (359 mm.) --- rib height: ~1 1/8" (29.5/30.0 mm.) --- body stop: (327mm)
upper bout: 6 3/4 " (171 mm.) --- waist: 4 3/8 " (111 mm.) --- lower bout: 8 1/4 " (210 mm.)

SOUND & PLAYABILITY
This fiddle has a strong, woody sound with good depth and clarity. The high end is also strong and full with good volume without being tinny or strident. The string clearance off the board renders it very easy to play. It gives a very strong, rounded and full tone. Double stops are sweet, strong, harmonious and easy to achieve.

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