W & S Trade Violin – LEIPZIG, Germany circa 1930 – CURRENTLY OUT ON TRIAL –

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We have a beautiful German trade violin, made in Leipzig circa 1930. The regions around Germany’s violin centers, Mittenwald and Markneukirchen, grew because of the violin trade. Demand for violins in England and North America in the 19th and early 20th centuries increased sharply, especially in the US, keeping the German workshops busy. Industrial efficiency contributed to the growing output, with highly skilled workers specializing in the handcrafting of violins coming from Czechoslovakia and Northern Germany. These makers and families specialized in making all kinds of wood instruments and their bows. They built instruments and bows in large quantity and many families focused on parts like bridges, pegs, chin rests, and fingerboards; as a result selling these “trade” instruments became known throughout the world. Great price and good quality. These makers had the German mindset and maintained a high level of quality due to the strong guilds and traditions. The city of Leipzig also became an area where a few makers and firms added their influence on the violin trade, but only up to 1938.

“W & S” refers to the company that imported the violin to America, not the maker. They imported and distributed violins and bows to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as the company Weymann & Sons. This violin has very good craftsmanship and has the classic Stradivarius look with antiqued varnish. The instrument does have a few wear marks but nothing out of the ordinary for a violin of this age. The violin has no issues; we did take the top off to repair one saddle split on the treble side. We have cut new soundpost and a new B grade Despiau bridge, a new chin rest, and tailpiece. The neck is slightly thinner than many modern violins and the violin is easy to get around on.

Corpus 258.0 mm. Major Width 112.0 mm. Minor Width 166.5 mm. Rib Height 30.0 mm.

This violin will have you think more than a few times about a German trade violin. It sounds great! The G and D strings have a mature sound; they resonate with old world character. The violin has power, and a player will feel the response and sustain as the instrument sits on the shoulder. The bottom end sings with ease and the A & E strings response is just as sweet and delivers power. The violin doesn’t disappoint and has overtones that are not bright colors. The violin has awesome age, almost 100 years, very good workmanship, beautiful varnish color, and a sound to match.