Name/Title
ViolinEntry/Object ID
2012.36.1.1Description
Fiddle owned by Roy Claxton Acuff and given in 1975 to his friend and band member Charles Edward "Charlie" Collins / Acuff's first professional instrument (other than his father's), German commercial grade, dark wood, light-wood bridge (replacement?), "HOPF" brand on reverse at upper body, interior label marked "Alburn Watson/ Violin Maker and Restorer/ Knoxville Tennessee,"* 23 1/2"h x 8"w, 1890-1910**.
* Alburn B. Watson (b. 1878, Union County, m. to Georgia M.) is listed in the Knoxville City Directory from 1925-1930; listed as "violin maker" in 1927. Overlaps with Acuff at the Southern Railway in 1929. He runs ads in the "Knoxville News-Sentinel" from 1/5/1924-3/24/1929; living in Washington, DC, by 6/28/1931 per daughter's engagement announcement.
** Date per Nashville instrument appraiser George Gruhn, based on looking at photographs.Made/Created
Manufacturer
Hopf (Germany)Date made
1890 - 1910