VETERAN’S VIOLIN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume L, Issue 113, 9 April 1930, Page 11

VETERAN’S VIOLIN.

FAMOUS NAME INSIDE. PURCHASE FIFTY YEARS AGO. NEW PLYMOUTH, April 7. A violin believed to be a Stradivarius has been discovered in New Plymouth. It is the cherished possession of Mr George Adlam, a Maori War veteran, who is now nearing his 89th birthday. Gummed in the interior of the violin a piece of print with the marks of age bears these words: “Antonius Stradivarius, Cremonenfis faciebat anno 1717. The violin was not sold to Mr Adlam as a “Strad.” It passed to him 50 years ago, and the story told by its owner is an interesting one. It was bought in Auckland in 1880. In those da-s Mr Adlam kept a store at Pungarehu, supplying the armed constagulary. Mr Phillips, a traveller in fancy goods for a leading Auckland mercantile house, and a friend of Mr Adlam, arrived on his infrequent round that winter. Mr Adlam asked the traveller if he could obtain a good violin for him in Auckland. Mr Phillips remarked that an acquaintance of Ins in Auckland had two violins and wished to sell one. Mr Adlam decided to buy the violin if it was a good one. As there was a possibility of it being sold quickly, the traveller ■wrote immediately, and the violin was in Mr Adlam’s hands within three weeks for £5. Mr Adlam had no idea of the make of the violin. The name inside is visible only at a certain angle in the light.- •" An article on the subject in a newspaper evoked Mr Adlam’e curiosity, and he investigated, to find the Stradivarius mark. He is not sure that it if genuine, although he holds that indications point that way. As a violin it has satisfied him for 60 years with its sweet, mellow tone. Some years ago the violin was slight, ly damaged when an iron bull’s eye target fell on the violin case and fractured it. The finger board, tailpiece and neck were knocked off, but were again set in place.