The flagship of the Greek lutherie in United States in the early 20th century
The Dream Team !
It is the early 20th century in Unites States, and the traditional lutherie of bouzouki making, finds in the new continent , 5 worthy representatives.
Four of them based in NY and one in Chicago, the five most famous luthiers of old bouzouki are:
1. Theodoros Karabas -NY
Fotis Vracas - NY
Dominick Sasso -NY
Appears to be an interesting relationship or partnership between 3 luthiers Fotis Vracas, -D. Sasso and another luthier from NY - E.S. Holley
From the above information we are coming to the conclusion that the F. Vracas bouzouki restored by http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/ is dating much later than the original date of 1910 given by the luthier who did its restoration, approx. middle 1916 until 1922-1923 since its label carries the branding F. Vracas and Co
Following a 1920 advertisement of F. Vracas and Co in the newspaper "Atlantis" of NY
Following a 1925 advertisement of F. Vracas and Co in the newspaper "Atlantis" of NY
It is the early 20th century in Unites States, and the traditional lutherie of bouzouki making, finds in the new continent , 5 worthy representatives.
Four of them based in NY and one in Chicago, the five most famous luthiers of old bouzouki are:
1. Theodoros Karabas -NY
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| 1911 Karambas bouzouki, from the personal archive of Stavros Kourousis |
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| 1911 Karambas bouzouki, from the personal archive of Stavros Kourousis |
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| 1911 Karambas bouzouki, from the personal archive of Stavros Kourousis |
2. Anastasios Stathopoulos - NY
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| 1913 Perfectone A Sthathopoulos bouzouki, from http://www.trixorda.blogspot.com/ |
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| 1913 Perfectone A Sthathopoulos bouzouki, from http://www.trixorda.blogspot.com/ |
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| 1913 Perfectone A Sthathopoulos bouzouki, from http://www.trixorda.blogspot.com/ |
Fotis Vracas - NY
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| 1910 F.Vracas bouzouki , from http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/ |
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| 1910 F.Vracas bouzouki , from http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/ |
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| 1910 F.Vracas bouzouki , from http://antebelluminstruments.blogspot.com/ |
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| 1915 D.Sasso bouzouki from http://www.mandolincafe.com/ |
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| 1915 D.Sasso bouzouki from http://www.mandolincafe.com/ |
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| 1915 D.Sasso bouzouki from http://www.mandolincafe.com/ |
Dimitrios Gretsis - Chicago
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| 1923 Dimitrios Gretsis bouzouki, from personal archive of Alexandros Koustas |
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| 1923 Dimitrios Gretsis bouzouki, from personal archive of Alexandros Koustas |
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| 1923 Dimitrios Gretsis bouzouki, from personal archive of Alexandros Koustas |
The last one (E.S Holley) had been registered as instrument maker at the corporation directory of NY with address 201 west 145th ΝΥ along with the Greek luthier Fotis Vracas. Year: 1915
The dates and the names do not make much logical sense as Fotis Vracas appears to have a close relationship almost at the same time with both the other two luthiers.
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| Today's photo from Google map for the above address Small stores still present, indicating a commercial use. |
Earlier Fotis Vracas had established buisness at the number 246 west 145th ΝΥ- bet. 7th & 8th Ave, under the name F. VRACAS and CO
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| Today's photo from Google map for the above address In 1926, the UNION BAPTIST CHURCH moved to 240-52 West 145th Street, demolishing any small stores Small stores still present on the other side of the road, indicating a commercial use |
From Trows General Directory of the Boroughs of Manhattan and Bronx, City of New York (p3) 1910 we are finding Foti Vraca in the address 346 w .59 th street New York, but with misspelled name as Vracof Fotte (?)
From the archives of the researcher and author Stavro Kourousi we are finding an old ad dating back in 1911 where F.Vracas and D. Sasso are partners in the address 347 w .59 th street New York
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| Today's photo from Google map for the above address A new building construction next to Church of St. Paul the Apostle |
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| With yellow stars , the three locations of Fotis Vracas workshops. |
Can Fotis Vracas be somehow the luthier behind the bouzouki constructions of the other 2 workshops ?
Can Fotis Vracas supplies the other two shops with his own instruments?
I thought to bring the bouzouki photographs from the 3 luthiers in discussion, next to each other and try to extract further conclusions.
Luckily enough the talented luthier Tasos Theodorakis (www.theodorakis.name) is restoring an E.S. Holley bouzouki, and he provided a photograph in Rebetiko forum
First observation from the comparison between D. Sasso bouzouki and F. Vraca one, is that the mold of their bowl is slightly identical, but different. From the other hand the head stock design for both looks almost identical and I would risk to say that the quality of bouzouki construction is almost the same for both luthiers.
Both , E.S Holley and 1910 F. Vraca instrument, carrying the same pick-guard shape and design.
Researching on the internet we find another F. Vracas creation, a lute, restored by the luthier Hordofonon (www.hordofonon.com/), with a similar motif of rosette as the one carried by the E.S Holley luthier.
Can Fotis Vracas supplies the other two shops with his own instruments?
I thought to bring the bouzouki photographs from the 3 luthiers in discussion, next to each other and try to extract further conclusions.
Luckily enough the talented luthier Tasos Theodorakis (www.theodorakis.name) is restoring an E.S. Holley bouzouki, and he provided a photograph in Rebetiko forum
First observation from the comparison between D. Sasso bouzouki and F. Vraca one, is that the mold of their bowl is slightly identical, but different. From the other hand the head stock design for both looks almost identical and I would risk to say that the quality of bouzouki construction is almost the same for both luthiers.
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| D.Sasso 1915 and F Vraca 1910 bouzouki |
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| D.Sasso 1915 and F Vraca 1910 bouzouki |
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| D.Sasso 1915 and F Vraca 1910 bouzouki |
Comparing the 3 luthiers side by side it appears that the bowl of E.S Holley bouzouki is almost identical to the F. Vraca one. We do not know the year when the E.S Holley bouzouki been made, and this may be the reason that E.S Holley bouzouki, appears to be in a greater quality of construction ( or a more expensive model ) from the 1910 F. Vraca instrument.
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| D.Sasso 1915 - F Vraca 1910 - E.S. Holley bouzouki |
Both , E.S Holley and 1910 F. Vraca instrument, carrying the same pick-guard shape and design.
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| E.S Holley and 1910 F. Vraca bouzouki |
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| F Vraca lute - E.S. Holley bouzouki |
More research from the internet is leading us to a catalogue with AMERICAN FRETTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS ( Pre-Civil War to WWII).
There we find Fote Vraca:
Vracas, Fote New York - NY 1904 -1918+
If the "+ icon "means date of death, then the luthier deceased on 1918 (?) accordingly to the above cataloque
PS: No indication on this catalogue regarding the other two luthiers E.S Holley and D. Sasso, but neither for D.Gretsi and T. Karaba
Further research brings some more light regarding the F. Vracas establishment and another luthier's name Kosta Petcoff working under Vracas F and Co, Year: 1918-1919
The above image comes from New York Co-partnership and Corporation Directory
And here is where research starts to be very interesting !
In Manhattan's 1911 directory under last name Sasso, we are finding Domenick Sasso and D and F Vracas sharing the same address.
The first listed as music (-musician?), the second as musical instruments.
The 347 W location is located at the southern Manhattan area, far from the other two : 201 W and 245 W of upper Manhattan area. Is Fotis Vracas expending his clientele to upper and lower Manhattan by contacting partnership with Sasso and Holley?
The 347 W location is located at the southern Manhattan area, far from the other two : 201 W and 245 W of upper Manhattan area. Is Fotis Vracas expending his clientele to upper and lower Manhattan by contacting partnership with Sasso and Holley?
From the general directory of Manhatan we discover another listing for F. Vracas
Following the time line of Foti Vracas life
-1904 registered in the AMERICAN FRETTED MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS (under Vracas, Fote)
-1910 he is sharing the same address with Dominick Sasso (under Vracof Fotte? )
-1910 he has built a bouzouki instrument
-1911 he is sharing the same address with Dominick Sasso (under D and F Vracas)
-1915 he is under partnership sharing same address with E.S Holley (under Fote Vracas)
-1916 he is under partnership sharing same address with E.S Holley
-1917 he is under partnership sharing same address with E.S Holley
-1918 he is under partnership sharing same address with Kosta Petcoff ( under Vracas F and Co)
-1918 died (?)
We will continue the research until we are able to extract some solid first conclusions regarding the relationship between these 3 luthiers.
I kindly urge friends of the blog especially residence of NY state , to help towards this direction by researching in regards of the 3 luthiers and contacting me with any further information they may have collected.Thank you
UPDATES:
From the member "Parasantalos" of the Rebetiko Forum we are collecting further information.
In 1909 in the newspaper "Atlantis" of NY we find an advertisement of the partnership Sasso-Vracas with the address 346 W
In an insertion at the same newspaper on 31/03/1913 the puppeteer Chris Patrinos writes:
"I bought and I use bouzouki from the factory Sasso-Vraca, and I am completely satisfied for its perfection "
Last time we see Sasso and Vraca as partners is on 31/03/1913 (at 347 W)
On 16/08/1913 we find an advertisement for the "Factory of musical instruments of D. Sasso " only without the F. Vraca
Following a 1920 advertisement of F. Vracas and Co in the newspaper "Atlantis" of NY
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