Thanks for the reference to that site but as I said, I am already familiar with Ole Bull, his career, and his entrance into US folklore for his wild fiddle playing. He even has a verse in "Old Dan Tucker". It was because I knew about Bull thatI recognized the fiddle as a possibly interesting item when I ran across it while researching historical papers for a biography I am writing.

What I am hoping for is that someone will know something about Ole Bull violins. It may even shed some light on the family of my subject since I know that they ran a music store in Elizabeth New Jersey during the second decade of the twentieth century.

As I said, this particular instument needs to be renovated but it looks sound. I am wondering whether or not it is worth saving. There may well be some stories about the significance of the manufacture of this line of instruments. It may be one of the earliest "endorsed" musical instruments named after a performer, something that became common with guitars and perhaps other instruments later.

Sourdough