Very unusual instrument

[ardcarp]

It's a sort of violin, tuned as such, played with a bow on strings going over a bridge. But instead of the usual violin 'body', the bridge passes its vibrations onto a sort of resonator which projects the sound through a brass trumpet bell.

The owner doesn't know what it's called, but thinks it might have been used in the early days of recording to project violin sounds into early (non-electronic) horn+wax disc equipment. (Sorry about my nomenclature!)

The pic of the instrument in its case takes a bit of working out what's what. Note 'guitar-type' tuning pegs. This may have been a later addition.

[french frank]

Is this it - a Stroh violin?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin

[ardcarp]

Is this it - a Stroh violin?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stroh_violin

It looks like it! Well done for spotting it, ff. Note that the Wiki article says these Stroh instruments were invented by an electrical engineer. There is definitely nothing electrical in the instrument I saw today.

[french frank]

It looks like it! Well done for spotting it, ff. Note that the Wiki article says these Stroh instruments were invented by an electrical engineer. There is definitely nothing electrical in the instrument I saw today.

There seem to have been several similar adaptations according to the article given different names.

[pastoralguy]

They were popular in the early days of recording since they could make a more concentrated sound that suited the recording horn better. I got the opportunity to play one in Bruges when a street player had a break whilst I entertained the crowd. (Well, four people and a dog!) It was very hard work to play!

[Serial_Apologist]

Not knowing all that I would have called it a violumpet.

[Old Grumpy]

All I nah is that it's not a violin, pet!

[RichardB]

It's a sort of violin, tuned as such, played with a bow on strings going over a bridge. But instead of the usual violin 'body', the bridge passes its vibrations onto a sort of resonator which projects the sound through a brass trumpet bell.

It's a Stroh violin, as others have pointed out (violas and cellos were also made), and indeed the idea was that its sound is more strongly directional so as to suit being played into a recording horn. It's been revived by my good friend the violinist and composer Aleksander Kolkowski, who's otherwise involved in various experimental uses of obsolete recording technology, and who has an extensive archive of wax cylinder recordings made specially by contemporary musicians (including yours truly). A set of Stroh-like instruments (but with normal bodies as well as horns) was built in 1973 for Mauricio Kagel's piece "1898" which was commissioned for the 75th anniversary of the Deutsche Grammophon Gesellschaft. You can hear their somewhat harsh sound on the recording of this piece: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zzNeTqiXh6A