Kloz (a.k.a.Klotz) - being sold by a klutz

[Richard Simon]

Hello,
One of those string-maker encyclopediae mentions the Kloz/Klotz family of violin makers, and describes the second-generation Sebastian's instruments as 'unremarkable,' 'cheap,' and likely made for students.
The label is not hand-written; it says Sebastian Kloz, in Mittenwald, 1803. The same encyclopedia casts doubt on the authenticity of the label.
As the photos reveal, there are glaring issues including a probable bass bar crack, a treble-side body-length crack, and (not pictured here) a broken scroll repair.
An old flatback soldier, war wounds aplenty, patched clumsily to keep it in service. Sounds nice, if 'unremarkable.' It's more endearing than a new Chinese hybrid; in fact, I sold one of those after giving it a year of daily practice. Unrequited love.
The seller insists he played the Klotz for ten years without impediment from any of those old repairs. He's offering it to me for a little more than the proceeds of the hybrid sale.

I could buy it, play it and pray for its continuing stability, or buy it and address the issues over time, one by one - assuming they don't conspire all at once.
If it is indeed a student-level instrument, even after a full-scale restoration the bass would an old, run-of-the-sawmill bass with numerous repairs - not much competition for modern instruments that arrive with little or no problems - except the new stuff tends to sound immature for a long time.
Is it worth rolling the dice for such a bass? Thank you.

[Ken Smith]

Forget the label. It is a typical low end Czech/German bass about 100-130 years old. Nothing to do with the Mittenwald school.

[Richard Simon]

Thanks, Ken,


for shaking off the myth about labels inside basses.


Then I came a across another bass, this one with a partially obscured label; only the words 'Made in ...Germany' are extant, the middle word likely having been 'West.' or simply 'W,' suggesting that the instrument was made post-WWII once Germany had been sliced in two. There's no other label. It does have a carved top. At some point it was likely a school bass, as it bears a shadow of 'L 2' on the upper back.
Any idea where this might have been made?
This will conclude my inquiries about such instruments. This one is in decent condition and will join my anonymous round-back and Red Callender's 1930's Morelli to round out the infield. Thanks again for sharing your expertise.
-ricardo