I have seen a wooden fiddle and a case in the "Musician's Friend" catalog at that price. The fiddle is Chinese, I believe. They have them for as little as $70 in their discount catalog. I assume they are playable, the workmanship is at least neat, and they include a bow and a case.

You can find used fiddles cheap if you look long enough. Junkers in the US seem to go for $75 and up. The differences between the cheap import and the old clunker cut two ways. On the plus side, the old fiddle probably was made with better wood. It may have originally been a quality instrument. Then again, it just might be the 1932 equivalent of that $139 special.

The down side is that whenever you buy an old instrument, you will either need to be a skilled instrument repairer or spend $80, $120, or more to get the thing set up by a violin repair specialist. And it is unlikely to come with a useable bow or a good case.

The cheap import comes with a sturdy case, that probably fits your good fiddle and a fiberglass bow ($39.95 value) So I think it is a buy purely as a source of spare parts.

I lucked onto my fiddle for a small amount at an estate sale, but had to spend $150 or so having it "set up" by the guy who does work for the local symphony. By fiddle standards it is a very good instrument, I am told. But then, fiddles, like pizza, are very much a subjective thing.

What would I do? I would go to your local music store and check out the Chinese fiddle.

ef