Tests have proven that the instrument band leader Wallace used when he and his seven fellow musicians drowned in the disaster over 100 years ago is authentic.
Author Steve Turner, who wrote a book about the Titanic band, said: “I was suspicious at first but when I looked closely I could only conclude that this was the real thing or the result of an extremely elaborate, and well informed, hoax. I am convinced it is genuine.
When Wallace’s body was found in the Atlantic, his violin was reportedly strapped to his chest. But its whereabouts have been a mystery ever since.
The person who owns the violin lives in the UK but is not one of the musician’s relatives. The owner says Wallace’s fiancee, Maria Robinson, was sent the instrument after the tragedy.
Among the evidence is a 1912 diary in which Maria, who moved from the US to Bridlington, East Yorkshire, drafted a letter to authorities in Nova Scotia thanking them for returning it to her.
The violin’s case has the initials WHH and on the instrument is the inscription: “For Wallace on the occasion of our engagement. From Maria.”
If sold it would smash the record for a Titanic artefact – $210,000 for post office keys in 2007.
Auctioneer Henry Aldridge, of Devizes, Wilts, has spent thousands establishing if it is Wallace’s violin. Mr Aldridge said: “The owner has not decided if they want to sell but it is more likely it will go on exhibition if proved genuine. We hope to have a definite answer this year.”
Wallace, 33, was buried a hero in his hometown of Colne, Lancs, after the disaster on April 15, 1912. He had moved to Yorkshire in his early 20s where he became a popular band leader.
An auctioneer has hired experts to try to verify claims by the owner of the century old instrument that it belonged to Wallace Hartley, the leader of the vessel’s eight-man musical ensemble.
LIES. The instrament would be so watfer damaged that it would never look like that. Who the hell do they think they are fooling
Um dude? If you read the. Article you'd know they got it off his body after the ship sank not from under the water recently, stupid Titanic the movie leo dicaprio fan! They don't even go down there anymore!
I don't care about a stupid violin.
Its a piece of history
A piece of garbage you mean.
What makes you think that we care what you think about a stupid violin?
The violin has more brains than you do, dork.
And we Don't care of your exsistence in this world jackalope hunter. What a stupid comment you made. Its a significant piece of Titanic history you- jackass.
That picture is classic…love it.
You like to look at and feel the merchandise at a little guy's store, but buy the same thing from a huge store? Then, you demand to keep the "teaser" rate going from a large service provider company?
Did they find Wallaces body in or out of the water? If he was floating in the water, the violin was probably ruined. Even so, it still may have sentimental value.
DUH!!! Did you really expect to find any truthful stories on this website? If so then….. they used an alien violin rebirth ray on the violin and it suddenly became new again! How's that?
hmm if the violin was strapped to his back wouldnt of it been kept in a case as i dont see violins having straps like guitars? So therefore if the voilin was placed in a case and the case managed not have been waterlogged the violin would still be intact. I think its is amazing all the belongings they've been finding over the years and i hope they salavge enough for a opening at a museum it would be amazing to see how much has stayed intact after 100 years. RIP the victims of Titanic may your souls be at peace for all eternity.
Actually the story is true as the body was found floating on top of a bunch of bananas The violin was out of the water and frozen that's why it remained in such perfect condition.
The violin pictured leaves the impression that this is Wallace Hartley's violin; it is not. The pictured violin was made AFTER the sinking by Arthur Lancaster in Hartley's home town of Colne as a tribute to the dead bandleader. The instrument is held in Trust in Lancashire and is loaned each year to the leader of the Lancashire Youth Orchestra.
Dear jackalope hunter, if you do not care for "a stupid violin" found on the titanic, don't leave snotty comments, or read the article in the first place.
this violin would have a 99.9 chance of being ruined and a 50.0 chance of being ok
They could fool someone who can't spell