Vintage Instruments

Vintage Instruments deals in, restores and appraises fine stringed instruments, from antique violins and modern cellos to handcrafted bows for concert players. Its workshop includes several luthiers, with restorers who focus on classical and baroque instruments and a bowmaker who balances restoring old bows with making new ones. The shop has operated since 1974, when founder Fred Oster opened it, and it is known for appraisals and certifications.

Appraisals cover insurance, estate tax and charitable donation needs, and the shop also writes evaluations of damage, repair costs and loss in value after an accident. Instrument trials, repairs and evaluations are handled by appointment, so call ahead to schedule a visit. The shop sits on the Avenue of the Arts in Center City Philadelphia, in an 1882 brownstone mansion with stained glass and terracotta details, and is open on weekdays.