I have wondered about obtaining a fiddle for a few years now. The hope for me is to learn enough to add some fiddle notes on the CDs I make. A month ago, I acquired a fiddle, but as the photo shows the instrument is in need of some love and maybe a few repairs.
Inside the fiddle states this instrument is a copy of a Jakobus Stainer and made in Germany.
The neck was completely off the fiddle’s body. The fiddle nut was missing. the nut is a wood or bone piece that fits at the end of the neck board. There was no bridge for the strings to rest on. Two metal fine tuners were missing. Also, the bow used to drift along the strings to make the sounds did not have any horsehair. The horsehair is stretched on the bow.
So, once I assessed the needs I began searching and ordering parts. I have all the parts needed including strings. I have been working on making the nut out of bone. The neck and other wood repairs have been reglued with Hide Glue. My next step is to glue the nut in place once I have all the sizing completed with the string guide slots filed in.
I as given a fiddle this past week. It too has seen past issues, but it helps to use it for the measurements often in millimeters.
One point all the readers of this post must know. I do not know how to play a fiddle! Ha ha. I hope to work on that once the fiddle is all completed. Wish me luck!
Larry A. Smail's Blog 
As a recently retired professional violinist, I am very excited to see your newest acquisition!! Please replace that case with something new soon to keep the mildew at bay! Lots of inexpensive options on the big websites(southwesternstrings or sharmusic, for example) Have fun restoring it!!
Thank you.. we will see how things go.
I wish you all the luck in the world! I doodle around with a banjo, but I didn’t have to build it.
Thank you Kathy. I do play a five-string banjo some.