mralston - Posted - 02/12/2012:  07:18:13

I've been collecting banjo keys/wrenches for a while ...... some of them are fairly ornate, and they were used by some of the major manufacturers for advertisement.  Yesterday I found two old violin mutes at an antique store: one is marked "W&S   Phila.", which may be from Weymann and Sons.  Does anyone know about vintage violin mutes ?  Collectible ??    They're a lot prettier than the clothespins that I usually use for a mute ! !

ajisai - Posted - 02/12/2012:  12:06:30

I don't know anything about vintage mutes but they sure are neat. If I saw one, I'd buy it. : )



A while back I stumbled on a string gauge and I'm thinking you might find it interesting, too. I'll post a photo below.

Edited by - ajisai on 02/12/2012 12:12:41

DougD - Posted - 02/12/2012:  12:21:36

That's very cool, Cynthia. What do make of the three different sets of slots - looks like they're labelled "D,"A" and/or "C" and "E?" At the Internet archive there's a scan of a C. Bruno musical goods catalog from about that time that includes a patented "crown mute" also made by C F Albert. Its the typical clip with a an engraved disc attached.

I don't know how collectible they are, but there were some neat ones made, some with built in string gauges and pitch pipes.That W&S style seems most common, although most are plain, but I don't like them because they can gouge your bridge if you're not careful. I have one that shape, but its spring loaded like those old binder clips for papers, and it works great. Never seen one like your second picture.

ajisai - Posted - 02/12/2012:  12:26:39

What did we do before Google? Apparently vintage mutes aren't only collectable, they're wearable.



etsy.com/transaction/8935397

Edited by - ajisai on 02/12/2012 12:32:16

Diane G - Posted - 02/12/2012:  15:33:27

CYNDY....THAT'S PRICELESS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have some wonderful old mutes and a string gauge (I'll put up a picture of mine later this week. I want to make some of those necklaces...what a great idea. I can take them to the camps I go to this summer.
Regarding your string gauge: Gut strings came in coils, not individual strings...people had to measure the length they needed, cut it off and make a knot in the end to secure it in the tailpiece. The coils were about 2 feet long and gut came in different gauges for E, A, D, G and C viola. So hence the measurement tool to get the correct gauge for each strings on the violin. One of the old German instruments that we just purchased from a family here locally had two coils of the gut strings unopened in the paper wrappers!!! I will look at the wrappers and see if they give a gauge like 1, 2 etc.
What a trip...thanks for posting.
Stay tuned. DIane in SoCal

ajisai - Posted - 02/12/2012:  15:48:49

Yes. Imagine what it would be like to always have a fashionable A 440 at one's disposal. : )

Sue B. - Posted - 02/12/2012:  16:16:14

The Philly one may be Wurlitzer's. At one time, violinists shipped their instruments there from all over the East coast, if not the country, to have them checked & set up. My violin prof sent his from western NYS.

DougD - Posted - 02/12/2012:  16:23:59

I took a closer look at that C. Bruno catalog Cynthia, and it shows your string gauge on pg. 284. Its #46, described as "Brass Patent" - $4.20/dozen. There's also another C F Albert gauge, #48, which is the same but round, and described as "German Silver - Patent" at $6.50/dozen.

They also have the strings these were meant to be used with on pg. 289. They only list a G string for violin, in three windings and the four sizes on the gauge. "No.1  Small, No. 2  Medium, No. 3 Full, No. 4 Large (seldom used). When no size is stated, we send assorted. (Size No. 4 only to order.)"

They also list G and C strings for both viola and cello, and end with this: "Each String made by Mr. Albert wrapped in paper separately, with label showing size by the gauge."

CF Albert was located in Philadelphia.

Its clear that the gauge is labelled: "D,E, and A/G." Maybe the G string was wound, and the A string plain, or wound in such a way that they were the same gauge.

I tried to post pictures of the pages, but it didn't work. I'll try again shortly.

Edit: I can't seem to extract pages from the pdf file. Here's the link to the catalog at the Internet Archive: archive.org/details/illustratedcatal00cbru

I'm pretty sure the "W&S" is "Weymann and Sons". I wonder if it might really be a banjo mute? Here's a wrench with their logo: mugwumps.com/wrenches/w+s_rnch.jpg

Edited by - DougD on 02/12/2012 16:37:12

ajisai - Posted - 02/12/2012:  16:36:59

That catalog is fascinating and I'm thinking others might enjoy taking a look at it, too. Do the mutes appear in it?

Link to PDF: ia600505.us.archive.org/0/item...0cbru.pdf

Edited by - ajisai on 02/12/2012 16:38:23

DougD - Posted - 02/12/2012:  16:43:36

The CF Albert "crown mute" is on pg. 160. #20 $10.00/dozen. There are other C.F. Albert "Specialties" on page 288. That catalog is a real goldmine.

Edited by - DougD on 02/12/2012 16:51:09

Oscar - Posted - 02/12/2012:  18:12:17

The catalog is totally awesome!

Each picture is like framable art!

And those prices are also good! Russian Violins $7.50, Pernambuco bow $5.

Edited by - Oscar on 02/12/2012 18:16:10

Diane G - Posted - 02/12/2012:  21:48:13

Thanks Doug for the site...I agree with the framable art stuff too...all those old catalogs are fantastic. Diane in SoCal

mralston - Posted - 02/13/2012:  14:49:34

".........another special feature is the Unitone violin mute, which has merits that will interest dealers who desire to present to their customers something out of the ordinary"

from 1915 Music Trade Review

Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 06/11/2012:  12:48:22

It was ironic and fortunate I just found and bought one off ebay Cyndy.........  

ajisai - Posted - 06/11/2012:  13:09:44

Nice one! What are you going to do with it? : )

Ozarkian D.L. - Posted - 06/11/2012:  19:32:57

I dunno.....just wanted it, LOL. Maybe a necklace. Yours has a patent date on it, I notice this one does not. It'll probably jus wind up in one'a my fiddle cases.

ajisai - Posted - 06/11/2012:  19:51:27

That was the right answer! It would make a great fiddle case zipper pull -- except I'd be afraid of losing it that way. Like you, I just like having it. : )

fiddlepogo - Posted - 06/11/2012:  22:39:22

I have an antique violin mute that looks a lot like the one in the first post on the left,
except that it's black, and made out of very thick LEATHER!
There are kind of staple-shaped springs holding the two sides together at the top,
For a top mounted mute, it sounds pretty good, although I generally don't like top mounted mutes,
which is why I went to the rare earth magnets.