Hello anyone out there who would like to discuss fiddles. I started this forum to get some of my own questions answered.
I own three fiddles. Two are Jerome Thibouville Lamy fiddles. One is an unmarked German "fancy inlay" fiddle. I assume all three were built circa 1900. The JTL fiddles have different lables. If that reveals something about their history & production dates, I'd love to know. The fancy inlay fiddle has no lable. It is also slightly smaller by fractions of an inch than the JTL's.
6 Comments |
 | Diane G says:
4/30/2011 9:57:30 PM
Hi Fiddle Collectors...I'm new to this group and would enjoy some information on a fiddle that I have.
American, 1932 Horace Bailey Smith. Upper State NY.
Smith was a violin maker; he's not listed in any of the American makers books. This is well built violin with a thick top and back I had my luthier do some work on it...regraduate the top and bottom. It has great tone and projects well. Anyone know about this maker?
Thanks. Fiddling Diane in SOCAL
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 | Newl Post says:
5/1/2011 2:09:41 PM
Hi Diane G,
I've lived in Upstate, NY ("CWNY" or Central Western NY more specifically) since 1974. I'm new to fiddle collecting/culture and don't know my NY violin makers well. But I'll ask around. I bet some of the string instrument stores & repair shops may know something about Horace Bailey Smith. There's also the Eastman School of Music Library here in Rochester, NY. They may be able to help you get some questions answered.
Thanks,
Newl
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| Diane G says:
5/2/2011 10:54:20 PM
Hi Newl. Thanks...maybe you can out something for me about this maker...this fiddle is wonderful. My husband knows a bit about JTL fiddles and we have several of them...what do the labels say inside. Can you post pictures. My husband Bob...tells me that Jerome TL was a violin maker and then it became a shop name. There were many grades of JTL fiddles produced...student grade to professional. The more expensive professional grades are great fiddles and are also sort after by professional violinist who cannot afford the auction house German or Italian ones. Stay tuned. Diane PS: I will look up more on JTL in our collection of violin makers books we have here.
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| Newl Post says:
5/3/2011 1:52:21 PM
Thanks Diane, The JTL fiddles are both graded "Medio Fino" on the label. The fiddle I have as my profile pic has a label that states the full name of the maker, depicts builders' compettion awards and gives an address in Paris. It appears to have been made with more attention to detail/a more careful hand that the other. And, it sounds nicer (especially when the weather is just right). I'll have to write later about the other JTL. It is lent out to a friend for a while. But I think remember the Label just has the JTL initials. It is definitely a much planer label. The scroll is larger and rougher looking and the purfeling on the back appears to only be drawn on actually wanders over the edge near the neck on the on with the simpler JTL label. About 15 yrs ago I almost bought a banjo-uke that was labeled JeTeL. It came with a little 3 by 5 card that said it was made in England. Do you know anything about JTL making instruments other than fiddles?
Thanks,
Newl
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| Diane G says:
5/4/2011 10:36:16 AM
Greetings Newl! I spent some time this morning looking up some information of your JTL's. If you can go to a library and check out this series of books. Universal Dictionary of Violin and Bow Makers. William Henley. 1960 Information on JTL is in vol. 5 Here's some info for ya...Louis Emile Jerome Thibouville-Lamy was born at Mouttes, France in 1833.
He worked at Mirecourt (big area for fiddle factories back then) and in Paris. He became sole proprietor of various factories at Mirecourt. High award for violins in 1877. Firm made excellent Strad copies. Also made double basses (the firm under his name...1930. Check out these books...you can find them on Ebay for sale...they are expensive but a great resources tool.
Have fun. Let me know if you need any other help. I'm
going to pull my H.B. Smith out today and see where in NY state he lives and will send that you ya. Stay tuned. Fiddling Diane.
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| Diane G says:
5/5/2011 9:39:14 AM
Hi. Found out that my Horace B. Smith was made in Rochester, New York on Arcadia Street in 1932.
Thanks for any information you can find. Stay tuned. Diane
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