COUESNON,

94 rue d’Angoulême, PARIS.

1900.

Invented in London by Johannes Matthias August STROH (Frankfort am Main, 1828 – London 1914) and patented in 1899, the “Strohviol” was played to facilitate sound recordings during recordings on wax cylinders. Following the sound system of the phonograph, the resonance of the strings is produced by a mica membrane adapted to the bridge, whose vibrations are amplified by a metal bell.

The model made by Couesnon is inspired by the Stroh system, adapting it to a structure closer to the classical violin, in line, size and materials, and adapting it to a nickel-plated brass bugle bell.

Made during the first half of the 20th century, the bell violin was used by Anglo-Saxon jazzmen, ballroom musicians and comic artists…