Brian Smith's reflections on poor Violano recordings is no surprise.
Living in a wooden "cage" the violins are somewhat difficult to record.
There is also no shortage of improperly regulated instruments.

Designed as an entertainment machine for the penny arcade, Violanos
are predisposed to being regulated on the loud and ruckus side.  The
most common arrangements, popular contemporary fox trots, did lend
themselves to the dance floor.  Compare their sounds perhaps to today's
dance music.

But a good machine can be regulated with quite a bit of precision.
A Violano tends to sound best with the bow speed and pressure very low
and the years' of rosin cleaned from the strings.

There are plenty of nice examples out there.  Considering their
intended use, it's surprising that they have the musical capabilities
that they do.

Ed Gloeggler