Mid 19th century original 5 string?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Steve Swan

Chewing the fat with a retired symphony player the other day, he told me about a section mate that played a mid-19th century (he thought 1840-50) 7/8 original 5 string, probably German or Tyrolean. Were 5 string instruments really made around this time? I can only imagine what the gut B string would look like!

They had covered wire/wound Guts way back from the late 18th century from what I have read. I don't know if they were in use all across Europe but I did read of its invention from that far back.