Kevin -  almost two weeks later, and I can tell you that I have successfully taken your advice and been having a BALL!!!!!  I've bought 4 old violins on ebay along with quite a few spare/repair part.  I got my 4 violins for $98, $206, $242, & $660. 

The $98 - once cleaned & setup (which I'm now learning to do & it's not too tough at all, in fact, I love doing it, so I can be as meticulous & exact as my up tight, high strung heart desires, lol) should sell to a student for a couple hundred

The $206 - I haven't much looked at yet

The $242 -  a violin that sells in shops new for $2100; it's in perfect condition & my teacher has a buyer for it when it's cleaned up, for $950

The $660 - is the most incredible story of all (to me) (& I'll keep it as short as possible). Fortunately for me, the seller lives 20 mins from me & he was happy to let me see it before I bid (a very nice upstanding guy; he bought it a few months earlier at a local estate sale for $18).  When I saw it, I was astounded at how the body resonated when I tapped it in various spots (no nut, no strings, no tailpiece, no bridge), but it sang.  All the accompanying pieces (dates on cases & storage tags) led me to conclude that this was a legitimate late 17th/early 18th century instrument. I was so excited that when I got home, I spent 9hrs researching everything I could track down about it, even as far as the date & inventor of the very unique shoulder rest that was attached & was patented.  Once I was done for the day, I knew I had to win this bid & I clearly had an advantage.  So, the morning of the close, I saw the price rise from $60 to $450; and 15 seconds before the close, I put in my max bid of $2127.27; and WON!  I was so ecstatic I picked it up that night on my way home; spent 4hrs (til 1am) cleaning it, fitting a bridge & nut & tailpiece & stringing it and adjusting the sound post.  The bow is beautiful but all the hairs are deteriorated so my first bow stroke was with my bow.  It raised the hair on my neck and arms.  It was like nothing I've ever heard before.  The next day, I rushed it over to my teacher to play.  Within half a dozen strokes his face lit up and he made a salacious comment having to do with the violin making love back, lmao.  His final comment was, "I've played some very expensive violins,,, this is the most incredible sound I've yet to hear in person".  Denny did a sound analysis on it and concurs that it's a great sound (I don't know his exact conclusion).  So in the next month I'm going to take it to one of the best appraisers on the West Coast to see what he thinks.  Regardless of the finding, I'm not selling it & I will continue to be overwhelmed by it's sound & playability for a long time I hope.  I've never had (not that I have very much experience, lol) a violin, so clearly tell me when I was off pitch.  Btw, my wife wishes I would gush over her the way I do about this violin, lmao!  Soon, I will do a vid of it so you can see/hear it.

So Kevin, I am so grateful that you urged me to just try it.  I am loving it & hope to make enough money to support my new habit.

That's GREAT instruction Kevin,,, very clear; thank you so much!  You know, there's a book that seems to be the ultimate violin restoration bible by Hans Weisshaar, but it's like $325,,,,, just for the book,,,, no strippers or happy endings,,,, just the book!!!!  So I'm trying to piecemeal notes from various sources that seem reputable.  So your instruction will go into those notes.

And so far I have a post gauge & setter, dental mirror & picks, jewelers files, and micro plane; I've been trying to decide what reamer & shaver to get, because, as you said, there are a couple different styles,,, and they aren't cheap.

Thanks Kevin!