Showing 6 results

14 Old Queen Street, Westminster. - Has spent a 'spare hour... fiddle-hunting', and as he expected finds that he can get a 'very fine instrument' for the sum she named; has 'quite lost [his] heart to one' by a little known Italian maker. If she could visit him at home, 34 York Terrace, he could arrange for her to try a few violins; she could compare his own instruments with any she might consider buying.

14 Old Queen Street, Westminster. - She should remember that the prices he suggested were the ones at which he himself could buy: his practice is to buy an instrument when he can get favourable terms; thinks 'no dealer would... commit himself to repurchase a violin at any time for £10 less than the price paid for it', due to questions as to condition for instance. A 'large stock of instruments means a great deal of wasted money; if as she suggests an instrument could go up in value by twenty or thirty pounds the dealer would 'do much better' keeping it instead of selling it. Feels it is best to 'go to a dealer of good standing'; will be easy to change it then, and she will only lose out by a few pounds for the dealer if she ever decides to sell it. If she decides to get one elsewhere, likely that 'either changing or selling would be a matter of very great difficulty'; has seen a violin purchased for a hundred and fifty pounds in Italy which could only be sold for forty pounds here; the dealers 'have taken everything they want out of Europe, & what they have left is not worth having'. Almost all the good instruments come to London; a few go to Paris; they are 'singularly scarce' in Germany. What he has told her about prices and dealing methods is 'very confidential'.

Parkhurst, Abinger Common, Dorking, Surrey. - Her letter reached him yesterday when he got back from Scotland; will help her any way he can 'with much pleasure'. Expects the violin she saw at his house will have been sold, but will look for another good purchase; she can 'get a good instrument at any moment by paying for it', but it may be necessary to wait for a good deal.

Arts Club, 40 Dover Street, Piccadilly. - Has found a violin which he thinks 'so good' that he has 'begged it may be put aside' for a day: it is Rugeri, but the 'scroll cannot be guaranteed genuine, and the varnish has been "renovated"' as they 'do in Germany nowadays'; however, it is in 'excellent condition, with a very fine tone', and he thinks would suit her very well. It is below the price she named, but would have been worthy 'some hundreds' if it had not been 'tampered' with, and that does not affect the sound at all; it is a 'very good looking fiddle'. Asks if she could come to see it tomorrow afternoon. Is going away on Saturday so is very busy, but thinks this is a chance she should not miss.

14 Old Queen Street, Westminster. - The violin has been set aside for him as a 'special favour'; if she wants a 'fine instrument', he 'urge[s]' her not to 'lose this chance'; she could always change it, but he does not believe she would want to. Thinks this is the 'finest instrument at the price' he has seen in years.

14 Old Queen Street, Westminster. - Thanks her for the cheque; is 'very pleased about the violin', and 'sure it will be a joy' to her.