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Hi, I purchased a beautiful cello for $50 at a non-orchestral music shop 45 minutes away. Probably took it in as a trade.
It sounds beautiful and projects, like WOW! There is a yellowed label inside.
The label reads:
Andrew Schroetter, GEIGENBAUMEISTER in Mittenwald/Bayern
Model No. 212 4/4 Jahr 9/83
Made in Western Germany 8153
I am assuming it was made by Andrew Schroetter, it is model 212 and a size 4/4. It was made in Sept 1983, in Western Germany. I think the serial number is 8153.
I cannot find any info on it. There is something about Andrew Schroetter and Infeld joining up, or maybe it was ankther Schroetter. There is an Otto Schroetter, not sure if they are related.
But this cello very neat tailpiece, the original from photos I have seen (with no info on the maker), and it sounds absolutely fantastic! Pretty sure it is a student, but wow. I have just been trying to find more info about it.
I will try to attach a few photos here. Never did this before on this site.
I will put a couple other photos in another post and try to shrink them down in size.
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Continuation of precious post requesting help in getting info about my Andrew Schroetter $50 cello. Here are more photos.
This cello has a slightly narrower “waistline” than my other two cellos, or any I have seen. The belly bulge is slightly higher, also. As a matter of fact, I could not fit it into the nice padded cello bag that came with a cello I bought from our local music store’s wife. The belly was too high. Had to purchase a different bag to bring it home.
It has a much louder sound than my other two cellos. Would this be due to the narrower waistline and bigger belly bulge? It is the same height.
The tailpin is much more heavy duty than the other two cellos. This wood seems to be much better quality. My husband said that it does not look like the student grade in the other two cellos, probably is a reason for the better sound quality, too.
Ada is just a really nice cello, wish I could play her better, but I am getting there. If anyone can add to what little informatiom I have been able to find about her, please let me know. Thank you very much. If my post here in the cello section does not get many viewers I will try to find out how to move it to a section with more traffic. The post above this has a photo of the inside label and a little more information, in case you skipped to this post.
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Using "Google.de", I came up with this string instrument manufacturer in Bavaria (a long walk from Mittenwald, but maybe he's your guy.)
https://www.aschroetter.com (phone number and all... and I'm guessing a very good chance that you'd reach someone who speaks excellent English 
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Thanks. Will check it out. There is another A Schroetter. Anton or Anthony. Ran across his name and Otto Schroetter. I think my Andrew is Otto’s son, but not sure.
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This is a photo of Ada all put back together with new pegs and soundpost. Monte is beside her on the left. Ada is near the piano.
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Bocaholly, I have been on that site before. It is a foreign language and I have no idea what that first square box wants. Has something to do with cookies, from what I can tell.
Thanks, though.
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Correct... legal obligation in the EU for prior cookie consent. If you do accept the use of cookies, look up in the top right corner. There's a German and British flag. Click to switch to the English version.
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THanks
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Bocaholly, I used your lonk and found a US distributor listed. Wasn’t going to call over the ocean. Too much of a long distance. They did not have an email,option, so I found a lonk for distributors. The only one there was Kenosha WI. That had the phone number, fax and email address. I just emailed them. Keeping my fingers crossed.
I am just curious about it. It is obviously much higher quality than my other two cellos, but still a student. One site about Andrew Schroetter said their cellos are all hand carved and not plywood. My husband said this one does not look like plywood. It just seems so much better in quality.
They did start making them in China, but that was many years after mine was made.
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Interesting, did you ever get answer for your questions?
I have also done a little detective work to identify the origin of my cello. There is a label inside, but unfortunately it’s not in good shape. I think the luthiers name is Peter but I’m not sure about the other name, maybe Schulz? Place is Regensburg and year maybe 1805 or 1808. Can anyone read better?
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I have no idea what says. 😁
I think it is hard to find out anything, unless they are really well known luthiers. I think it is even harder with student level or a step up cellos, or any bowed string instrument. I just enjoy Ada.
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Ilona said
Interesting, did you ever get answer for your questions?I have also done a little detective work to identify the origin of my cello. There is a label inside, but unfortunately it’s not in good shape. I think the luthiers name is Peter but I’m not sure about the other name, maybe Schulz? Place is Regensburg and year maybe 1805 or 1808. Can anyone read better?
@Ilona
Google books came up with a book "Handbuch der Laute und Gitarre" that has the following reference. It, however, says he was born (geb.) in 1808 and died (gest.) 1871. Don't know if that fits, but the last name looks like it could be Schultze.
Bob in Lone Oak, Texas
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You are gooood, Bob.
BTW, Bob, I was trying to “point” to you with an “@“ but there was no “bob” option. Why is that. Tried about 4 times.
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@Mouse . Back in circa 1930 to 1950, Tertis experimented with a cello that had a similar bout geometry as the one you described (his second wife played the cello). I do not believe that they are commercially available and it is unlikely that a luthier would spend the time to make the rib mould necessary to get one privately. Naturally, I am interested in them.
If possible, please measure the largest width of the upper and lower bouts, the least width of the center bout, and the length of the corpus. In turn, I will post my approximations of what I think these measurements would be on a Tertis cello, based on my example of a Tertis viola. I doubt your cello was intended as a Tertis cello, but the maker may of had similar ideas.
Do you have any difficulty in holding it while playing? I have been told, “give a girl a break,” when I have talked about making one.
Success is the progressive realisation of a worthy ideal. —Earl Nightingale.
I believe Yitamusic on ebay has a model close to this one, though it is not available at all times.
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Bob said
Google books came up with a book "Handbuch der Laute und Gitarre" that has the following reference. It, however, says he was born (geb.) in 1808 and died (gest.) 1871. Don't know if that fits, but the last name looks like it could be Schultze.
Thanks Bob!
I actually found this same guy when I was searching information. But the year doesn’t fit to him unless that third number in the label would be 3 instead of 0. It looks like 0 but can’t be sure. If the year is 1835 or 1838 it fits better with that Peter and could be possible.
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