Re: [Harp-L] re: Who on earth is Anton the Plumber?

["Dave Payne, Elk River Harmonicas" <dave@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

John, 

I do have formal training in the historical research arts and that award from the West Virginia Press Association for Best Investigative Journalism (that was a previous award, not the one I won this year) and one thing I have learned during these years is to identify and target those who can most help steer research in the proper directions. I know that if I throw some question into the thinnest of air, there is but one man capable of answering that call --- one can rely that somewhere Johnathan Ross will be working in his research library and the Internet ether to dig up the fact in question. Thank you for coming through here on the Anton Richter fiddles and whatnot. 

I also offer my humblest and most sincere of apologies for my behavior in the previous e-mail where I blantantly, selfishly and convienently ignored the points you raised in your initial e-mail. 
_________________________________
Dave Payne Sr. 
Elk River Harmonicas
www.elkriverharmonicas.com 



----- Original Message ----
From: Jonathan Ross <jross38@xxxxxxxxxxx>
To: harp-l@xxxxxxxxxx
Sent: Sunday, November 16, 2008 5:51:16 PM
Subject: [Harp-L] re: Who on earth is Anton the Plumber?

Dave Payne writes:

"However, sorry if I wasn't clear, my question was about Anton  
Richter bass violins. "

It was, but your basic misunderstanding of the harmonica history was  
the part I felt like dealing with, since I have no knowledge of Anton  
Richter stringed instruments, nor a particular desire to find out.

Still, I took about two minutes and did a Google search.  There was a  
musical family in the German speaking regions from the 18th through  
20th centuries named Richter, mostly related to positions as  
organists and Kapellmeisters. There seems to have been at least one  
organbuilder in the family, and he could have possibly made other  
instruments as well (which was not uncommon) particularly stringed or  
free-reed keyboard instruments (depending on the dates of the  
individual).

Also, it appears that the Anton Richter name is used for members of  
all the orchestral strings, not just basses.  I found no corporate  
website as typing "www.antonrichter.com" redirected here:

http://www.worldpiano.net/products/new.html

Whether this has any relation to the Anton Richter violins is not  
mentioned.

Mostly, it seems that Richter in general is not a rare name, and  
"Anton Richter" a not uncommon variant, turning up architects,  
musicians, homesteaders and others.

All of that has nothing whatsoever to do with the points I raised and  
which you have conveniently ignored.



  ()()    JR "Bulldogge" Ross
()  ()
`----'



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