Musician Benedict Heaney has launched an appeal to find the missing prototypes of the modern day electric violin, writes Roseena Parveen.

Benedict, 29, of Park Road, Abingdon, fell in love with the electro-violin as a student and is now a music teacher devoted to researching its history.

He is determined to find the originals, built in the early 1900s, and is about to launch the findings of his research on to the Internet. After years spent researching electro-violins, Mr Heaney was stunned to learn that despite popular belief that the instrument is a relatively modern invention, it actually dates back to the early 1900s. Now he wants to find an example of the first electro-violin, which he believes still exist.

He said: "The originals were made of materials like bakelite and aluminium. Players today have never heard of them but my research shows they did exist.

"I've found a newspaper article from 1938, that mentions the seismograph fiddle. It's amazing - the man more commonly known for inventing instruments that measure earthquakes actually made one of the first electric violins.

"But no-one has ever seen it. There are others that were built around the same time. Where are they?

"I have devoted my career to this research, but I've reached a dead-end and need help. I'm appealing to anyone who remembers seeing these original electro-violins - perhaps they own one, or went to a concert in the 1940s where one was played. Benedict has tracked down a drawing of one dating back to the 1930s, built by George Beauchamp.

Anyone who can help Benedict's search can write to him at 3, Park Road, Abingdon, OX14 1DA, or through www.digitalviolin.com