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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Violin made at Braintree PoW camp restored | Violin made at Braintree PoW camp restored |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A violin made by a German soldier at an Essex prisoner of war camp has been restored and is to be played again. | A violin made by a German soldier at an Essex prisoner of war camp has been restored and is to be played again. |
| The instrument is marked "1944" inside and was crafted at High Garret in Braintree, which held German and Italian prisoners during World War Two. | The instrument is marked "1944" inside and was crafted at High Garret in Braintree, which held German and Italian prisoners during World War Two. |
| Russell Stowe, of Woodbridge Violins in Suffolk, said it was so well made it had to be the work of a professional. | Russell Stowe, of Woodbridge Violins in Suffolk, said it was so well made it had to be the work of a professional. |
| "I've seen many violins in the past 25 years, but stringing this up was quite amazing," he said. | "I've seen many violins in the past 25 years, but stringing this up was quite amazing," he said. |
| It is understood the craftsman was unable to take the violin back to Germany after the war, so he handed it to a British officer as a thank you for allowing him to make the instrument. | It is understood the craftsman was unable to take the violin back to Germany after the war, so he handed it to a British officer as a thank you for allowing him to make the instrument. |
| Read more on this and other stories from Suffolk | Read more on this and other stories from Suffolk |
| Inside is inscribed "Hergestellt in Englischer fangenschaft" (Made in English captivity). | Inside is inscribed "Hergestellt in Englischer fangenschaft" (Made in English captivity). |
| The violin is now owned by David Powell, of Woodbridge, whose parents lived in Braintree and were given the instrument by an officer in 1945. | The violin is now owned by David Powell, of Woodbridge, whose parents lived in Braintree and were given the instrument by an officer in 1945. |
| 'Labour of love' | 'Labour of love' |
| He is due to hear it played for the first time later on Thursday. | He is due to hear it played for the first time later on Thursday. |
| "It was always in and around the house, but I don't think it had any strings back then," he said. | "It was always in and around the house, but I don't think it had any strings back then," he said. |
| "We have no idea where he got the wood from but he even boiled up his own glue. | "We have no idea where he got the wood from but he even boiled up his own glue. |
| "It's a labour of love." | "It's a labour of love." |
| Mr Stowe, who first saw the violin on Tuesday, said it only required minor repair work to make it playable. | Mr Stowe, who first saw the violin on Tuesday, said it only required minor repair work to make it playable. |
| "It's very, very well made and I've known amateur makers in proper workshops who do not make violins as good as this. | "It's very, very well made and I've known amateur makers in proper workshops who do not make violins as good as this. |
| "The thing is very unusual because it was not made from the usual pine or maple - and that will influence how it sounds." | "The thing is very unusual because it was not made from the usual pine or maple - and that will influence how it sounds." |
| He said it was possible the violin body was made from a type of mahogany, with a packing material similar to a tea chest also used. | He said it was possible the violin body was made from a type of mahogany, with a packing material similar to a tea chest also used. |
| "This has got the touch of somebody who knows what they were doing and may have been a violin maker before the war started," he said. | "This has got the touch of somebody who knows what they were doing and may have been a violin maker before the war started," he said. |
| "There were many violin-making families in Germany in the 1880s and 1890s." | "There were many violin-making families in Germany in the 1880s and 1890s." |