Articles published about the string instrument business.
RIN:250
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NEW Posting: Article from 1890 about Fake violins.

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2007

SAN FRANCISCO Feds want violinist to face the music
John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer, December 21, 2007
Joseph Hokai Tang's most recent violin performance in a Eugene, Ore., concert hall came with an unexpected ending. Feds want violinist to face the music. (article)

He's arrested for fraud - allegedly ripped off instrument collectors.

Symphony Will Sell Collection In Dispute (article)
A group of investors, including businessmen who are twin brothers and amateur violinists, have agreed to buy a controversial collection of rare string instruments from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra.

Axelrod Instruments in Dispute

Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark (update):
Alix Kirsta August 31, 2002 (article)
The troubled fortunes of the beleaguered New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, and the fall from grace of its former patron and philanthropist Herbert Axelrod have proved an ongoing saga.

Update to the NJSO purchase of instruments and question of ownership (Axelrod/Machold/Sator)

NJSO’s investment in ‘golden age’ instruments turned into a liability
New Jersey Record: March 25, 2007
Violins and intrigue don't often go together, outside the pages of Sherlock Holmes. Yet even the great detective – and famed violin lover – might have been stumped by the mystery that's unfolded over four years at the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra... This month the orchestra, now $16 million in debt – $12 million of that tied up with the instruments – announced it was looking to sell the instrument collection, including 12 violins and one cello by Stradivari. (Article)

Inflated Appraisals,
Antique Instruments

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2005

(Topics)

New Jersey Symphony: Orchestral maneuvers in the dark.
Did something fishy go on when the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra splashed out on some 'great' antique instruments?
Alix Kirsta asks the $17m question. (Aritcle)

Saved for the Nation, the Violin that Plucked Stradivari out of Obscurity.
The Viotti Violin, with a value of at least £3.5m has been saved for the nation to be played by the most brilliant of Britain's up-and-coming musicians. (Article)

Money, Power and Corruption. John Schaefer, Fritz Reuter and Drew McManus talk about the power, corruption and conflicts of interest in the string instrument world [John Schaefer, Fritz Reuter and Drew McManus of ArtsJournal.com .
(WNYC Radio New York) Read the script & listen to the radio interview

Appraisals,
Teacher Kickbacks
Old vs. New Instruments

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2004	(Topics)
Axelrod Articles Posted around the web. Gerald Segelman spent a lifetime. Axelrod Articles Index	IRS/Court issues with appraised prices and Tax Fraud.
Chicago Trubune: Howard Reich December 2, 2004 *"Last Suit on violin fraud is settled."* *(Article Text)* In the suit, the Segelman estate accused Warren & Son of partnering with London violin dealer Peter Biddulph in "providing unfair and unreasonably low expert opinions" of violin values, of "wrongfully purchasing property of the estate at substantially below market value" and of "wrongfully purchasing estate property in secret."	Commercial Bribery Fiduciary Obligations fraud, misrepresentation, and unjust enrichment

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2002	(Topics)
GUARDIAN UNLIMITED: Alix Kirsta August 31, 2002 "Fiddles" (Link) Gerald Segelman spent a lifetime amassing one of the world's finest collections of violins. The events that followed his death would blow the lid off the 'genteel' world of violin dealing. http://www.guardian.co.uk	Undisclosed Commissions, Unjust enrichment
STRINGS MAGAZINE: Susan M. Barbieri. May/June 2002, Number 102 "An Elegy for Ethics" (Link) Unbeknownst to buyers, many music teachers get commissions for helping students find instruments. http://www.stringsmagazine.com/	Commercial Bribery Fiduciary Obligations Teachers Commissions

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2001	(Topics)
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Howard Reich and William Gaines November 18, 2001 (Article Text) *"Young musicians pay a heavy price to perform on top violins"* Tribune Special Report: The Great Violin Chase -Third in an occasional series. Young musicians need top instruments to be competitive. But the dealers and speculators exact a heavy price for their gift. http://www.chicagotribune.com	Mary Galvin and [unnamed instrument Society]. --a for-profit venture
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: William Gaines & Howard Reich and Aug 28, 2001 "Historic Violin Tug-of-War" (Article Text) Tracing the Lobkowitz family collection of instruments after the Nazi's raid during WWII. http://www.chicagotribune.com	Dubious lineage for the Lobkowitz Amati violin
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Howard Reich and William Gaines Aug 19, 2001 "How Nazis targeted world's finest violins" (Article Text) Tribune Special Report: The Great Violin Chase -Second in an occasional series. Trail of treasures is lost in secret rare-instrument trade. http://www.chicagotribune.com	Rare and famous maker Violins taken by the Nazi soldiers during WWII. Tracing the origin and history of today's high priced instruments.
THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE: Howard Reich and William Gaines June 17, 2001 "Dealers gain collectors trust, score multimillion bonanza" (Article Text) Tribune Special Report: The Great Violin Chase -First in an occasional series. London, Chicago experts finagle Holy Grail cache of violins. http://www.chicagotribune.com	Altered labels and questionable appraisals given for commissioned selling of instruments.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL: Gwendolyn Freed. April 19, 2001 *"Strings Attached?"(Article Text)* www.wsj.com Allegations of Financial Fraud and Breach of Contract Linger Over Sales of Precious Violins.	Gingold sues dealer for: fraud, misrepresentation and unjust enrichment

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 2000 AND EARLIER	(Topics)
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH: Barbara Zuck. April 16, 2000 (link) *"Was is a Strad? Or has someone been royally had?* "Concertmaster Charles Wetherbee performs on the Rubinoff violin". "What if a symphony patron, inspired by Wetherbee's performance, an available Stradivarius and interest as a collector, bought it and loaned it to the orchestra? Then again, what if the instrument isn't really a Strad?" http://www.dispatch.com	Price evaluation and authenticity of rare instruments. Arbitrary pricing varies by the millions.
STAR TRIBUNE: Gwendolyn Freed. February 20, 2000 (link) "Lawsuit frays strings of trust in high-priced, secretive world" Estate claims top dealers plundered collection of rare violins and violas http://www.startribune.com/	Segleman collection scandal deemed "unjust enrichment" by the court.
STRINGS MAGAZINE: Mary VanClay. November 1996 *"Mysteries of the Market"* (Link) Buyers and Sellers Sound off about the Stringed Instrument Trade. http://www.stringsmagazine.com	Teachers commissions, Commercial Bribery Fiduciary Obligations
MICHIGAN LAW REVIEW (92 Mich. L. Rev 1743): May 1994 Carla J. Shapreau of Attorney Crosby, Heafey Roach and May, Oakland CA. *"Strings Attached - Violin Fraud and Other Deceptions." (Article)* Legal paper discussing different legal aspects of the violin market including: legal title of stolen instruments and dealer misrepresentation of the original maker and authenticity. Author is an Attorney as well as a professional violin maker and a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers.	Professional negligence Trust and confidence Kickbacks paid to obtain a competitive edge Fiduciary relationship Commercial bribes
VIOLIN FRAUD: Brian W. Harvey and Carla J. Shapreau May 1992 "Violin Fraud", Oxford University Press (Link) Deception, Forgery and Law Suits in England and America. Liability for misdescriptions in Civil and Criminal Law; Fakes and Forgeries, Stolen Violins, Breach of Contract and Warranties; Hazards of Secret Commissions and the Duty to Disclose; Criminal Liability; Ethics.

ARTICLES PUBLISHED IN 1990 AND EARLIER	(Topics)
TIMES OF LONDON, May 27th 1982 (page 12) Geraldine Norman, Saleroom Correspondent *"Many a New Fiddle"* (London Times article) Musicians and music colleges are increasingly falling victim to a great violin fiddle. They have bought instruments with certificates guaranteeing they were made by such magic names as Guarneri, Guadagnini and Stradivari. But the violins, although old, are undistinguished. The certificates have been forged, mainly in Japan.	Forged Certificates Teachers commissions,
DEALER ACCUSED OF BLOCKING PROBE OF FRAUDULENT VIOLIN SALES Source: DICK COOPER (Philadelphia Inquirer Archives) By Dick Cooper Inquirer Staff Writer. A prominent Center City musical- instrument and art dealer was charged yesterday with obstructing an FBI investigation into forged certificates used to pass off inexpensive replicas as rare European violins. Adolph H. Primavera, 50, who operates two stores in the Rittenhouse Square area, was indicted by a federal grand jury here on two counts of perjury and one count of obstruction of justice. The indictment charges that Published on March 11, 1982, Page B01, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
GUILTY PLEA ENTERED IN VIOLIN PROBE Source: DICK COOPER (Philadelphia Inquirer Archives) By Dick Cooper Inquirer Staff Writer. A Center City musical instrument dealer pleaded guilty yesterday to hindering a federal grand jury investigation into the forging of certificates used to pass violins off as rare old European instruments. Adolph H. Primavera, 50, operator of the House of Primavera, 180 S. 18thSt., pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Clifford Scott Green to one count of obstruction of justice. As part of his plea bargain, Primavera agreed Published on April 27, 1982, Page B02, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
SCORING WITH VIOLINS: JAPAN NOTED AS MARKET FOR ILLEGAL TRAFFICKING Source: L. STUART DITZEN (Philadelphia Inquirer Archives) By L. Stuart Ditzen Inquirer Staff Writer. Law enforcement officials in the United States and Japan have recently developed an ear for classical music - particularly for the violin. The reason: Smugglers and swindlers are making their presence known in there fined international circles in which classical violinists travel. In Philadelphia, Tokyo and other cities around the world, some respectable personages have played in a hot violin market - and gotten burned. A Published on June 6, 1982, Page F01, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
VIOLIN MAKER SENTENCED IN FORGED-DOCUMENTS CASE Source: DICK COOPER (Philadelphia Inquirer Archives) By Dick Cooper Inquirer Staff Writer. Violin maker Adolph H. Primavera, who had pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, was sentenced yesterday to three years' probation and ordered to spend 200 hours doing volunteer work by U.S. District Judge Clifford Scott Green. Primavera pleaded guilty April 26 to obstructing a federal investigation into the use of forged certificates that were used to pass off inexpensive violins as rare and expensive instruments. Perjury charges Published on September 23, 1982, Page B06, Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
IT WAS NOT AN ANTIQUITY (article) THE HISTORY OF A CHEAP VIOLIN WITH LOFTY AMBITIONS. A dealer charged with selling a fifty-cent fiddle for a sixteenth century Duiffoprugcar. Published: October 30, 1890 (Copyright The New York Times)

SAN FRANCISCO Feds want violinist to face the music John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer, December 21, 2007 Joseph Hokai Tang's most recent violin performance in a Eugene, Ore., concert hall came with an unexpected ending. Feds want violinist to face the music. (article)

SAN FRANCISCO Feds want violinist to face the music
John Coté, Chronicle Staff Writer, December 21, 2007
Joseph Hokai Tang's most recent violin performance in a Eugene, Ore., concert hall came with an unexpected ending. Feds want violinist to face the music. (article)