Contact Us About Instruments & Services or Visit the Shop
Contact Us
Phone
vintagephiladelphia [at] gmail.com
Change the [at] to @ in order to send an email!
Business Hours
Hours: Monday through Friday 10am to 5pm.
Closed some holidays.
Appointments not necessary for general business, but call for an appointment for special services and violin trials so that we can best prepare for and focus on your needs.
Address
507 South Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
FAQ
A. Yes. Our web site represents the type and variety of instruments we work with. No modern drums or accordions, no ukelins, but plenty of other fun and fine stuff. If it is something that we are interested in, we will probably ask you for lots of information like measurements, serial numbers, etc. and if we are really, really interested, we would like to see photos.
A. No. Unfortunately, a professional appraisal requires an examination of the instrument since authentication and condition are important factors in the value of the instrument. We are happy to schedule an appointment for a proper appraisal, just call and set it up, and we do charge for appraisals. If you are not in the Philadelphia area, check with shops in your locale for assistance in this matter. For general information, you might also consult some of the many good books currently available about musical instruments. A well stocked library or bookstore may be very helpful in this regard.
The Strad magazine publishes their directory online. You should be able to use this to locate a violin shop with appraisal services in your area. http://www.thestrad.com/
A. Unfortunately, if you are not sure, the greatest likelihood is that it is not. Hundreds of thousands of violins were produced in large workshops and factories in Germany, France and Czechoslovakia during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many of these bear the facsimile labels of such famous makers as Antonius Stradivarius, Joseph Guarnerius, Guadagnini, Maggini, Amati, Bergonzi, Stainer, and others. The facsimile labels were used to indicate that the instrument was styled after or inspired by a model made by one of these early makers. These instruments were produced to satisfy the needs of student and amateur musicians for useful and affordable instruments, and sold inexpensively through music shops and catalogs (like Sears and Montgomery Ward). In order to determine whether your violin can be put in good order and be made playable you should make an appointment with a violin shop in your area.
A. If your instrument is stolen report it to the police immediately. Even though it can be a pain in the neck, you will need this report should the instrument ever turn up. Be sure to include a full description, as well as a serial number or any other unique identifying information. There is always the possibility that the police will recover your instrument. If the instrument is relatively new, notify the manufacturer since some maintain databases of stolen instrument information. Additionally, send notices to reputable shops and repairers in your area. Some publications, such as Vintage Guitar magazine, have free classified sections where you can advertise your stolen instrument. Stolen violins should be reported to the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers (link to https://www.afvbm.org/) and Maestronet (link to https://www.maestronet.com/) for inclusion in their stolen instruments registry.