Basic Facts to Remember
| Fact 1. The merchandizing of violins is totally unlike the merchandising of any other product. Throughout the world, violins (and bows) are bought and sold in a way that has no parallel. No other trade defines "usual and customary" business practice in the same way as violin dealers. It is hard to say this loudly enough: No other consumer product is sold in the same fashion as are violins. This fact is especially obvious when we are talking about old/antique instruments. Therefore, knowing the common methods/schemes of this trade (outlined as Fact 5) will protect you from becoming a sheep to be shorn. Knowledge will make you an educated buyer. |
| Fact 2. Fact 2. The violin is a classical "blind item." Very few people have the professional qualifications to appraise authenticity and physical condition. Yet it is these which ultimately determine any instrument’s "Fair Market" value. |
| Fact 3. The beauty of sound of any violin has no necessary relation to the price of the instrument. Just as visual beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty of sound is in the ear of the listener. Anything we perceive with our five senses is judged subjectively, as something we "like" or "don’t like" --not as something which is objectively good or bad, since there are no recorded and accepted standards to judge by. |
| Related Links: | RIN:031 The String Instrument for the Soloist . |
| Fact 4. The actual monetary value of a violin, like that of any other article, is determined by what it will bring in a sale--regardless of how much, or how little, one may have paid for it in the first place. Insurance reimbursements are the only exception to this rule. |
| Fact 5. More than ninety percent (90%)of all violin teachers, tutors, and orchestra directors--as well as a large number of music administrators in schools and universities, not only public but private -- are employed on a "commission" basis. Covertly, they receive "finder’s fees", kick-backs, bribes, or other forms of remuneration from various instrument dealers. |
| Related Links: | RIN:039 MUSIC CENTER OF THE NORTH SHORE |
RIN:029 ADDRESS TO A CLOSED SOCIETY |
| Fact 6. To accommodate the routine payments to third parties, most sellers who do not provide Cash-Buy-Back Warranties have to add -- on top of the normal 33% gross business profit (not net profit)-- considerable marks-ups. These are astonishing. They may triple, even quadruple, the whole-sale/Fair-Market price of the instrument. |
...regarding the violin labeled: "Kloz". If genuine, the
Kloz violin could be of value and of interest to us as we do buy, appraise and take
instruments on consignment. |
These violins were made in Markneukirchen, Saxony Germany. They were "trade name" instruments of student quality. If we can be of any other assistance, please contact us. |
Without seeing the Violin, it's not possible to tell value. The following paragraph is about Sangster. There are no Auction sale prices available. Sangster, Earl H.; Dallas, Tx. 1889-1970. Born in Upper Falmouth, NS, Canada. Started making violins at age 14. Primarily self-taught. Moved to Vineland, NJ, in 1920 and worked as a repairman for Jesse Davies. Established own shop there in 1922. Moved to Halifax, NS, in 1925 and worked in a different line of business. Established own violin shop there in 1930. Returned to die United States in 1939 and worked in several cities, including Fitchburg, MA, c. 1942. Also worked for J.H. Stamps in Fort Worth,'IX. settled in Dallas in 1946. Primarily used a c. 1705 Strad model. |
| A. BASIC FACTS TO REMEMBER Fact 1. The merchandizing of violins is totally unlike the merchandising of any other product. Throughout the world, violins are bought and sold in a way that has no parallel. No other trade defines "usual and customary" business practice in the same way as violin dealers. It is hard to say this loudly enough: No other consumer product is sold in the same fashion as are violins. This fact is especially obvious when we are talking about old/antique instruments. Therefore, knowing the common methods/schemes of this trade (outlined as Fact 5) will protect you from becoming a sheep to be shorn. Knowledge will make you an educated buyer. Fact 2. The violin is a classical "blind item." Very few people have the professional qualifications to appraise authenticity and physical condition. Yet it is these which ultimately determine any instrument’s "Fair—Market" value. Fact 3. The beauty of sound of any violin has no necessary relation to the price of the instrument. Just as visual beauty is in the eye of the beholder, beauty of sound is in the ear of the listener. Anything we perceive with our five senses is judged subjectively, as something we "like" or "don’t like" --not as something which is objectively good or bad, since there are no recorded and accepted standards to judge by. Fact 4. The actual monetary value of a violin, like that of any other article, is determined by what it will bring in a sale--regardless of how much, or how little, one may have paid for it in the first place. Insurance reimbursements are the only exception to this rule. Fact 5. More than ninety percent (90%)of all violin teachers, tutors, and orchestra directors--as well as a large number of music administrators in schools and universities, not only public but private——are employed on a "commission" basis. Covertly, they receive "finder’s fees," kick-backs, or other forms of remuneration from various instrument dealers. Fact 6. To accommodate the routine payments to third parties, most sellers who do not provide Cash—Buy—Back Warranties have to add -- on top of the normal 33% gross business profit (not net profit)-- considerable marks-ups. These are astonishing. They may triple, even quadruple, the whole-sale/Fair-Market price of the instrument. |
