Extract from book

[willowman]

I am trying to find information about a scottish violin maker.
I have discovered that he is mentioned in two rather obscure books, one costs �75 and the other �100, both way too expensive to buy just to read the section I want.
The local library has searched the country to see if they can find a copy in the system, to no avail.
Has anyone any idea how I could get to read the relevant information, without actually buying the books?
Do you think the authors would be willing, for a fee no doubt, to copy the section and send it to me?
It seems a bit cheeky to ask them, is this ever done?
Thanks in advance for any help.

[cancross]

It's a long shot, but Google books sometimes shows snippet views or previews of books.

I don't know the title of what you want but here are the results for a possible candidate. Try also entering the title or titles you want.

http://books.google.ca/books?hl=en&rlz=1G1GGLQ _ENZZ262&q=%22SCOTTISH%20VIOLIN%20MAKERS%22&um =1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wp

[willowman]

Thanks Guys, I'm now making some progress.
Been onto Goole book search (didn't know this existed) and found the libraries that have them in stock, so will get back to my local library to see if they can get hold of a copy.
The violin maker is James Omond from Stromness in the Orkney Isles. I'm interested because I have my grandfathers old violin which was made by this man in 1904. My g/father was a crofter on one of the Orkney Isles.
The books are
Violin Making in Scotland 1750 - 1950 by David Rattray.
Scottish Violin Makers, Past and Present by William C Honeyman.
Any further help will be much appreciated.
Thanks again.

[pingping]

the British Library in London carries a copy of every book ever printed, so they should definitely have it.

[heathfield]

The ''Scottish Violin Makers, etc'' by Honeyman is available on CD (PDF format) from a bookseller in the US for �12.51. Postage shouldn't be much for a CD. See it here.

[willowman]

Just an update.
Local library has found "Scottish Violin Makers...." for me.
Hopefully they will track down the other one.
Thanks for your help.