Gamble Hinged Music Co. Chicago, Illinois 
Carl Wheeler Mott, maker

Woods, metal
ca.  1920s
Length: Length 22 in
Lutes – Violin Family – Folk Fiddle

Fiddl-ette displays the original label which reads: ONE OF THE “ETTE” INSTRUMENTS / Fiddl-ette / PAT. APPLIED FOR / GAMBLE HINGED MUSIC CO. CHICAGO

This antique original vintage Gamble Hinged Music Co Fiddl-ette Violin from Chicago, was designed in the 1920s by Carl Wheeler Mott as an introductory instrument for students. It was a pre-orchestral instrument (basically stripped down violin) used as an inexpensive way to see if students had the ability to play or not. The other three included viola-ettes, cello-ettes and bass-ettes. Originally, it came in a kit, precut, and had to be assembled. The sounding chamber is a hollow box of California redwood.

While the promotion and sale of the fiddl-ette was by the Gamble Hinged Music Company of Chicago, Mott continued to handle the manufacture. The fiddl-ette at that time sold for less than a dollar. At the height of its popularity, from 1928 to 1929, approximately 8,000 were sold, however by 1930 the company had gone out of business due to the Depression.

This fiddle came from the Fred Spector collection of Chicago (Lincoln Park), Illinois.  Fred played violin with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra for 47 years.