The next fiddle is one made by Jaques Boquais (rue d' Argenteull a Paris), according to the label inside, and there is also another label in it by a violin repairer (Wallace Whitcomb -- Milwaukee) from where it was repaired in 1896. This fiddle has double purfling (front and back), and on the back --- there is also an inlay of a European city scene -- wood inlaid into wood (to depict the buildings) with 34 pearl inlays for the windows of the various buildings. This guy has a crack by the bass-bar, but is still playable.
I got it from a lady who found it in Southern Wisconsin from an elderly couple, and she bought it for $25.00. She gave it to me in return for me paying for a fret job on her mandolin.
The 3rd fiddle, is a no namer that I got from a friend that he had from somewhere in Illinois. He needed money fast, and sold it to me for 150 bucks. This one has the best tone, and projection of the 3 in an open jam -- but the Bouquai works the best behind a microphone on stage.
