Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 137, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 December 1903 — VIOLIN FROM LOBSTER’S CLAW. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

VIOLIN FROM LOBSTER’S CLAW.

The only violin In the world mado from the claw of a giant lobster has Just been completed by John H. Dadmun, of 429 Berkley street, Camden, N. J. This unique Instrument, strange to say, can be made to produce as sweet musical tones as any high-class violin. Its owner gives the following as the story of Its life: The lobster from which the claw was taken was caught off Gloucester, Mass., In March, 1862. In time It came to Concord, N. H., where Mr. Dadmun saw It. At that time the lobster weighed pounds. A single claw weigh-

ed pounds. The claw that Mr. Dadmun preserved, after the lobster had. gone the way of such things, was 18*4 inches long, 7 inches broad and 3)4 inches thick. Preserved among other curiosities of the Dadmun household, the giant claw remained a claw for nulny years. One day it occurred to its owner that it was shaped something like a violin, and lie tried the experiment of faslilonlng it to look more like that popular instrument. After much patient effort Mr. Dadmun managed to transform the claw Into a violin that could be played. The tone was v«ry sweet, but not loud enough for an orchestra. Experiment proved that by changing the fittings and settings the tone could be made much louder. As it is now the violin when played properly sounds exactly like npy other violin. It 1* doubtless the most curious musical 'instrument ever made.