Poor, Old, Panormo...?

[Vesa Huhtala]

Hello all!
This bass has been waiting couple of years in my shop, needing a total restoration.
Known history: Years played classical music, at last two different periods. 30+ years on attic due to neck damage. "Restored" in playing condition for a dance band tens of years. Then unused many years. Throughout its known history claimed to be Italian. At the time when this claim was began, it must be remembered that after the Second World War some bassist of Finnish dance orchestra did not have much knowledge about the current appreciation of the classical Italian bass.
Wood used is beautiful, e.g very nicely flamed maple. Tuners are both etched and hand carved (not sure if original tough).
Honestly old, there are five different repair styles for deck crack repairs. According to my "research", I have concluded the following: First classical period has left bow strikes over a wide area, that being spot varnished. Neck joint (dovetail) got loosen but remained somewhat secure and playable. New bow strikes over new area, unvarnished. Bridge has had several placements horizontally. Maybe left or sold in Finland as it was. Then some serious neck joint and fingerboard damage occurred and bass wreck was doomed to attic. Then it was made playable, huge blocks glued to secure joint - and nailed... keeping back cracks open in wintertime. When installing new fingerboard last repairer installed... beware Ken... truss rod! (I took it off immediately, no affect to anything). Surface of the bass is something between truck splash flap and shotgun target. Repaires have used for retouching the only brown that they had straight on plain wood, so I think it has to be totally revarnished. It will definitely need to be opened to remove unorthodox repairs and secure the old ones. And maybe some half edging is needed. Even in this condition, with old and strange strings (not spiros) the sound is promising and has some "deep, old wisdom".

So, I am very grateful for any possible information, although they would prove my assumptions wrong.


Aand, Some measurements

Total height: 71,85inch/182,5cm
Length of deck(from bottom to neck heel):43,70inch/111,0cm
Length of back: 44,70inch/113,5 cm
String length: 42,50inch/108,0cm
Upper bout: 20,90inch/53,0cm
Waist: 15,40inch/39,0cm
Lower bout: 26inch/66,0cm
F-hole length 9,25inch/23,5cm
Ribs 7,70inc/19,5cm, from waist down