In summer in the early 1950's in Kasson, MN (Humble Blogger's childhood town near Rochester, MN of Mayo Clinic fame), a salesman arrived to sell an "easy playing" stringed instrument called a Violin-Uke. He started demonstrating and selling the novel-looking instrument in businesses starting at one end of Main Street and ending at the end near Mantorville Avenue where Dad's "Kraher's Meat Market" was located. For a couple days the Violin-Uke was the "talk of the town". The salesman positioned it flat on the table and effortlessly moved the bow horizontally across the strings as he played the numbered music sheet for "Old Susanna". He had such great expertise and sales pitch that several business owners (including dad) and customers therein who happened see the demonstration eagerly paid $28.50 to buy it. However the instrument proved more difficult to play than advertised and many (especially those in homes of the non-musically inclined) ended up in the closets or attics never to be looked at again! This was certainly the fate of our family's Violin-Uke which has disappeared over the intervening years.
Violin-Uke in case with bow missing.
Dimensions are about 24"long by 8" wide by 2" thick
[This photo and the photo of inside label shown below, were taken (with permission) by Humble Blogger at Tracy Luther Auction in nearby North St. Paul, MN, Monday 2/27/2012. The instrument was auctioned for $110]
Inside of Violin-Uke Showing that it was manufactured by "Marxochime Colony" in New Troy, MI Cost was $28.50 in early 1950's
First Page of US Patent #1,579,780 issued on April 6, 1926 to P.F. Richter. The Violin-Uke and other instruments were similar in construction with slight design changes .
Dad's (Eugene A. Kubiatowicz) "Kraher's Meat Market" in the 1950's. His specialty was smoked hams, sausages etc. branded Old Settler Products. Kraher was the previous owner's surname.
[Photo scanned from Kubiatowicz family collection]
Main Street Kasson, MN photo by Humble Blogger in August 2010. The street looks much the same as in 1950. The Violin-Uke Salesman started at the State Theater and worked his way down the street.
