John Friedrich & Bro Importers Stradivarius Model Violin – New York 1920

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We have a fine imported violin, a Stradivarius model violin imported from Germany. The violin was made for and sold by the workshop John Friedrich & Bros. in New York. Friedrich 1858-1943 was born in Kassel, Germany. He studied violin making from 1875-1883 in Kassel, Stuttgart, and Leipzig. In Kassel he began his apprenticeships with Oswald Mockel, a prominent German violin maker and restorer. Friedrich came to the United States in 1883 and in a short time became well known among American makers for his instruments, identifications, and valuations. His older brother William 1855-1911 joined him, and they established the violin making firm John Friedrich Bros. on 5th Avenue in New York City. Their elder brother Otto died in 1884. John made many instruments in his early years, also bows, violas, and a few cellos, but later the business was chiefly devoted to restoring and selling. He received highest award for his instruments in Chicago 1893 and for one of his violins at the St. Louis World’s Exposition in 1904. These awards are listed on the maker’s label. The shop’s last year of operation was 1935 when John retired.

The violin has a two-piece highly flamed maple back. The flame is small-to-medium width and descends from the center seam. The ribs match in degree of flame to the back. The two-piece spruce top has even fine grain which is very nice to see. The oil varnish is an orange/brown color with a touch of reddish brown in the bridge area and at the corners. The color is over a golden ground. The varnish shows nothing unusual, just natural wear and patina from a 100-year-old instrument. The instrument is in very good condition, which is a wow. We gave the violin a new set up; pegs, cambered the board, a rosewood tailpiece and chinrest, and a new bridge and soundpost.

The instrument responds well especially to a slightly heavier bow. I found bows over 61.0 grams help boost the bottom end. The G and D strings ring and they project well with a slightly covered tone. The bass side is less focused than the treble. The character of the sound seems to me to be a little woody, almost like a woodwind instrument. It is a different sound with overtone character. The violin is easy to get around and play in higher positions because the neck is on the smaller side in its girth. The E and A strings deliver plenty of power, a clean sound with sweetness. The instrument rings and a player will feel the acoustic vibrating on the shoulder. This is an instrument with good German workmanship from a major importer of German violins into America at the turn of the century. A good violin for the player looking to get into nicer older German instruments.