GOOD MITTENWALD VIOLIN, ANTON SCHROETTER WORKSHOP, 1950'S...

Description

WICHITA BAND INSTRUMENT COMPANY 2525 East Douglas Avenue Wichita, KS 67211
A good German violin of the Mittenwald school, Anton Schroetter workshop.
Two piece back of narrow figure, ribs of similar wood, the scroll of unfigured maple.
Table of narrow grain spruce.
Back length is 355 mm.
Total weight, without chin-rest, is 433 grams.
Superb original condition, no cracks or damage, everything perfect or close to it.
Typical of a better-quality mid 20th. century Bavarian instrument.
In the years immediately after the war, Anton Schroetter established a New York workshop dedicated to his importing stringed instruments from his native land.
The Schroetter firm still exists, today marketing violins, most of them, for beginning and "step up" students.
Our violin was made in the fifties, before Andy got involved with Martin Tolchin's empire.  "Tolchin Music" later became "Buffet-Crampon S.A." and I still have six hundred shares in the firm.  Tolchin went broke and my shares are today worthless.
But before Tolchin, Schroetter imported a wide range of violins, some of which were far superior to those made for beginners.
And our violin is one of the better models.  Please note the highly-figured wood on the back and sides, the narrow-grain spruce to the top.
It's also interesting that the sound-holes have been worked or "fluted" as  we say. That means more handwork that we don't see in the cheaper German instruments.
Scroll shows some evidence of chisel marks, which says "hand work, not cut with a machine".
Tone-quality is well-balanced, not brassy.  The instrument responds well to a strong bow-arm, the sound carries very well indeed.
In short...not the same as one of Schroetter's beginner fiddles, it's a "best buy" violin recommended for a high school student, an enthusiastic adult or anybody who likes Western Swing.
****
*** In January of 2021, our small workshop in Wichita celebrated sixty-eight years of service to professional, amateur and student musicians.
We employ ten highly skilled full-time workers and enjoy, we’re happy to report, a sterling reputation for top-quality restoration and ethical transactions. We are not amateurs, nor are we a “back bedroom” operation. We would be pleased to furnish you with references attesting to the above.
COME VISIT US!  Shopping for a good professional-quality violin?  We always have a selection of better instruments from the best European workshops. We're particularly fond of "old French" from the early 20th. century.  Strong voices, brilliant tonal qualities perfectly suited to orchestral and solo playing.
A few better violins, now in our shop...
Charles Quenoil, Paris, 1937
Louis Hequin, Paris, 1930
Eugene Langonet, Nantes, 1937
Caressa and Francais, Paris, 1952
Georges Cherpitel, Paris, 1935
Georges Apparut, Mirecourt, 1948
Marcellus Robin, Bordeaux, 1923
Charles Jean-Baptiste Colin-Mezin, Paris, 1944
Auguste Delivet, Paris, 1910
************************************************************************
Wichita Band Instrument Company is a small musical instrument emporium located in the center of the USA. We’ve been in business since 1953 and have had the same owner since 1963. Originally we were a repair shop that specialized in woodwind and sax restoration. Today we have 16 employees including six of the finest repair technicians in the country. Virtually ALL the items we sell have been fully reconditioned in our own shop, although we do sell a few unrestored historical instruments each year.
Wichita Band Instrument Company maintains a repair department capable of restoration work of the highest quality. Even though repairs are essentially “free” for the first two years, after that period has expired, we remain at your service to maintain and repair your musical equipment forever. It’s our “service after the sale” promise and has been since 1953!
In the event that a customer requires service under factory guarantees or Wichita Band’s service warranty, the item must be returned to us and not directly to the manufacturer.
Anything we sell can be sent to you for a short approval period without obligation.  The customer is responsible for shipping and insurance and must pre-pay back to us any freight and insurance charges on returned equipment.
Wichita Band Instrument Co.
800-835-3006 payment line (USA and Canada),
316-684-0291 outside the USA and Canada order line, and info line