English: Stroh cello, wood, aluminium bell, chin rest, chest rest, handle, spike and diaphragm, four wood pegs, four strings 1 stroh cello invented by John M A Stroh, London, England, 1899 - 1902 and manufactured by George Evans and Co. Ltd., London, England, circa 1920 mahogany, rosewood, aluminium, ebony, maple, gut, 1420 x 360 x 470 mm labelled ‘STROHVIOLS - TRADE MARK - REGISTERED’ and stamped ‘Rn No 675535’ 1998.60.101 Castle 165 The first Stroh instruments were produced in 1902. They had been patented by John Matthias Augustus Stroh (1828 - 1914) in 1899. Stroh had already been recognised for his many innovations in telegraph communications and acoustics development. This invention was a method for increasing the ‘amplitude of the sound of the violin.’ The increase of volume with the Stroh violin was ‘equal in richness and tone to three ordinary violins.’ It was held and played like a regular violin. Stroh instruments were first manufactured by his son, Charles, and from 1904 to 1942 by George Evans and Co. They were all a moderate success and enjoyed regular sales. The instruments were made in various sizes including the violin, viola, cello, double bass, guitar, mandolin and a one-stringed Jap fiddle. When the instrument is played the vibrations of the strings are transmitted through the bridge to a rocking lever linked to a diaphragm, and the sound is amplified by the horn in the same manner as a gramophone. They were first used for early acoustic gramophone recordings. Later, in the 1920s and 1930s, the instruments were used in cinema and open-air orchestras. They were also used in dance orchestras as a last effort to prevent the saxophone from usurping the violin’s traditional leadership. These Stroh instruments were imported directly from Dallas and Co., England by William White around 1920. White had one of the first music shops, retailing from Gloucester and Armagh Street, Christchurch. According to the Castles ‘he had all kinds of instruments for sale and his shop gained the name of ‘Dickens Curiosity Shop’. They purchased both these instruments from P Rive, a violin repairer from Christchurch.