Speaking of Norlin.....

[ksdaddy]

When culling the violins out, I found a 3/4 violin labeled 'Antonio Giovanni' made in Germany in 1976. Giovanni, as you know, is a good old German name. In fine print it read 'a division of Norlin Music Inc, Lincolnwood, IL'.

 

Of course they had absolutely nothing to do with it other than contracting and having their name on the label, but I thought it was cool.

 

I stuck it on ebay for $25. It's not cool enough to take up space.

[G u e s t]

.

There was a family of three brothers, Guidantus, Guidantus and Antonio Giovanni.

I think they worked making violins out of Florence around 1700-1800'ish.

 

There was also a fiddle player called Mario Masella whose stage name was Antonio Giovanni.

He played to considerable acclaim during the mid-1900's.

 

Seems like labelling a guitar "Les Paul" wasn't the first time Gibson used

makers and players to enhance the reputation of an instrument.....

.

[TommyK]

NOrlin bought more than just Gibson and Epiphone. They bought... CMI CHicago Music Instrument which owned the Gibson and Epiphone brand names as well as Baldwin, Slingerland, Olds and Selmer band instruments and many others. Some were sold off some just went away.