1758 Thomas Balestrieri violin found at thrift store for $20

[lodger]

Hi,

I am new to the group, don't play violin and frankly know absolutely
nothing about them. I am writing because I got a phone call from my
brother last night and he wants me to look into something for him. I
know it's April Fools Day but I assure you, this is not a joke. He was
at a thrift store yesterday and purchased an old violin (missing pegs
and bridge) for $20. Inside is a label that reads:

Thomas Balestrieri Cremonensis, fecit Mantuae Anno 1758

The "58" is written in by hand, the rest is a printed label. I typed
the name Thomas Balestrieri into Google and was shocked to find that
this is something like finding a Stradivarius (spelling?), which even
the uneducated non-violin playing layman knows is a big deal. These
things have sold for $30-300,000 dollars, according to some sites I've
been looking at. Now, before we get terribly excited, we need to have
this thing looked at and see if it's genuine and if so what it is worth
in it's current condition. I have no idea where to even begin to do
this, so I am turning to this newsgroup. I am located in Minnesota.
Can anybody clue me in on how my brother and I should go about things?

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

[Paul Howland]

Post by lodger
Hi,
I am new to the group, don't play violin and frankly know absolutely
nothing about them. I am writing because I got a phone call from my
brother last night and he wants me to look into something for him. I
know it's April Fools Day but I assure you, this is not a joke. He was
at a thrift store yesterday and purchased an old violin (missing pegs
Thomas Balestrieri Cremonensis, fecit Mantuae Anno 1758
The "58" is written in by hand, the rest is a printed label. I typed
the name Thomas Balestrieri into Google and was shocked to find that
this is something like finding a Stradivarius (spelling?), which even
the uneducated non-violin playing layman knows is a big deal. These
things have sold for $30-300,000 dollars, according to some sites I've
been looking at. Now, before we get terribly excited, we need to have
this thing looked at and see if it's genuine and if so what it is worth
in it's current condition. I have no idea where to even begin to do
this, so I am turning to this newsgroup. I am located in Minnesota.
Can anybody clue me in on how my brother and I should go about things?
Thanks in advance,
Ryan

...

There aren't any $300k violins left that are accidentally found for $20!
It's much easier to forge a label than it is a violin. Your brother
almost certainly has a copy. However, you may have been lucky and found
a good copy. Find a luthier in your telephone book and go get some
expert advice.

[Ptbrady]

Paul Howland replied,

Post by Paul Howland
There aren't any $300k violins left that are accidentally found for $20!
It's much easier to forge a label than it is a violin. Your brother
almost certainly has a copy. However, you may have been lucky and found
a good copy. Find a luthier in your telephone book and go get some
expert advice.

Paul is probably right; you don't have an original. I bought an old violin for
around $600 from a luthier because I wanted an instrument from the 18th
century. It is obviously German (so said the luthier) because of its
construction, and it has a weak sound, but it's fine for accompaning and I
believe it is genuinely old.
However, it has a ridiculous fake Cremona label in it. From its design, it
could not have been made in Cremona. So, it is a talking piece, and it has a
nice sound, and it was worth the $600 for me. It's a good backup for folk
fiddling in case I break a string on my better fiddle.
I also know someone that bought an old violin at a flea market, no label. A
luthier fixed it up and charged a few hundred dollars. It has a beautiful
sound, but is too weak for my taste.
Anyway, the old fiddle that the original poster had might be fun to have and
play on, even tho it may have a fake label. And, if it is real, so much the
better! Pete