Johan Paul Kunze Geigenmacher Mark Neukirchen 1927

[Hans Brinker]

Dear Sir, Madam,

Since ~ 1968 I own a 4/4 violin with the text on the inside paper label exactly as listed in the title above or on three lines:
Johan Paul Kunze
Geigenmacher
Mark Neukirchen 1927

Body length: 36.0 cm
Largest width wider section: 20.7 cm
Largest width narrower section: 16.7 cm
Total length 60.0 cm

I searched the internet but could not find any builder with such exact name.
Do you know more about this builder?

Thanks for your help,

Regards,

Hans

[Udo Kretzschmann]

Hello Hans,

in the twenties here lived some People with last name Kunze, but no Johan Paul! And also in my records I cannot find a violin maker with this name. So I guess it must be a "phantasy name", see thread "Geige von Anton Ludke".

Dealers used such fantasized names. I'm not sure about the reason. May be they could sell the instruments in that way a little better..

BTW, in 1927 the name of our town was Markneukirchen, no longer Mark(t) Neukirchen and Johan is a Dutch name, not a German! I think the creators of such labels, they turned a blind eye to these things.

The measurements are very common.

Best regards

Udo

[Hans Brinker]

Thanks Udo,

Earlier I found that Wilhelm Paul Kunze was a well known violin builder from Markneukirchen who moved to the Hague in The Netherlands around 1920. This violin was purchased in he Netherlands as well and made by "Johan" for the reasons you outlined in your thread "Geige von Anton Ludke".

Thanks again,

Hans

[Udo Kretzschmann]

Hi Hans,

bent U een Nederlander? Dan schrijf in het Nederlands!

Ik kan U verstaan. Maar ik zal niet proberen in deze taal te antwoorden. Het is so moelijk!

Mag ik in Duits antwoorden?

Met beste groeten

Udo

[Hans Brinker]

Udo,

Uiteraard is Duits goed. In woon in the US. Mijn gesproken Duits is redelijk goed maar ik schaam me voor de eventuele taalfouten in mijn geschreven Duits.

Met vriendelije groeten,

Hans