The Talking Machine Forum — For All Antique Phonographs & Recordings

MarkELynch wrote: Wed Nov 19, 2025 1:51 pm Interest discussion
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Every genuine Stroh instrument I’ve examined has had an aluminum horn (or horns) and an aluminum diaphragm. I would question the use of a mica diaphragm or non-aluminum horn. Here are a few photos

Mark
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I am unsure as to what you mean here.

Are you saying that Stroviols single string instruments were never made with mica diaphragms back in the very early 1900's and only with aluminium horns?

The aluminum horns were practical because of lighter weight - brass horns are considerably heavier. The diaphragms made of aluminum may have produced a clearer/louder sound and tone.

Here's one I've had for many years...

George P.

One of this year's three 78 RPM vinyl microgroove releases by Rivermont Records features a tango band; the photos on the front and back show players holding Stroh type violins.
The tango record is here: https://rivermontrecords.com/collection ... 0553513021
It can also be had as part of a discounted three-78 package (the other records feature ragtime and '20s/'30s jazz) here: https://rivermontrecords.com/collection ... 3681022013

These records are for play on a modern turntable with stereo cartridge, not on acoustic machines. Note: I have no connection with the company beyond being a satisfied customer.

As an instrument collector I have a number of genuine Stroh instruments and recently recalled that I had subscribed to the “Mugwumps” periodical back in 1976. Here is an issue devoted almost entirely to the history of Stroh.

Included is the definitive description of the exclusive use of an aluminum diaphragm.

Mark

Thanks for this interesting lecture

I mentioned earlier that some Stroh single stringed fiddles had horns which were not made of aluminium and that some were originally made with mica diaphragms - probably the very early ones.

There are a few examples of these on the internet and this one (shown in the link below) is very similar indeed to the one I have ! There are some minor differences but it is good to know that some of these still exist today.

As mentioned in the very interesting website: 'the horn on this is better quality and the resonator is actually mica rather than aluminum. I have a picture of that down the post, some, from when I had it open to clean.'.

He also states that: 'I didn't get a video of this and that's mildly unfortunate because it sounds quite a bit different from the last phonofiddle I had ..'.

I thought that this was worth mentioning for clarification and future historical reference / interest.

(I also attach a photograph of my mica diaphragm 'below' which matches the one shown by Jake Wildwood).

Interesting stuff indeed !

Website Link:

https://jakewildwood.blogspot.com/2023/ ... tring.html

In 2014 I heard a street entertainer in Glasgow playing a Stroh violin (the full four-stringed version). Long before that I attended a demonstration of unusual violins by the English violinist Susan Baker which included another example. I remember that it had a very full tone, utterly unlike the thin whining sound which one hears in the background of Victor operatic recordings. There is a brief YouTube video (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WvZAb_ohH1s) in which Baker plays a single-string Stroh.

Photographs of orchestras in acoustic studios, with Elgar and Henry Wood conducting, show mainly normal instruments with an occasional horn peeping out among them; the latter are probably violas.

In 1912 the British instrument dealers Barnes & Mullins were offering Stroh outfits for nine pounds or twelve guineas (GBP12.60), the latter being also the price of the firm's highest quality of conventional violins.

Oliver Mundy.

For the violinists or instrument collectors among us, the Mandolin Café just listed a dual bell Stroh or Strol-like violin for sale. The features look exactly like the one I own that bears the Stroh marking.

Here is the link.

https://www.mandolincafe.com/ads/238157#238157

Mark

This made me laugh !

So, there is a single string fiddle on ebay, a 'Howson' brand, and the seller states:

'At the best of times these instruments make a god awful noise but you know you need one anyway!'.

Well, ain't that a thing ...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/406621475491 ... R4TEppb8Zg