A century after the most famous maritime disaster in history, the violin which belonged to Wallace Hartley, the bandmaster on the ill-fated Titanic, has been authenticated. Auctioneer house Henry Aldridge & Sons has spent the last seven years, not to mention enormous amounts of money, determining the origin of the water-stained instrument. When the violin was first brought to the auction house, all were skeptical.  Documents have since been located which show that Mr. Hartley was found with the violin strapped to himself in a large leather valise.  The instrument was given to his fiancee and eventually wound up with the Salvation Army, then a violin teacher, before being brought to Henry Aldridge & Sons. It is to be put on display less than a mile from where the Titanic was built. Read more:
- Titanic bandmaster's violin found, say auction house (CBC News)
- Hartley's violin (CBC Sunday)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD9-z6Nw2FM