The story revolves about two pupils and comrades who are apprenticed to an old and successful violin maker of paternal and sympathetic inclinations. He hears that the king of his country has announced to the townspeople of Nuremberg that the maker of the best violin would be titled the Violin Maker to the Court, and pensioned on annuity. The old man apprises his pupils of the king's proclamation. The old teacher is anxious to have his pupils enter the competition, so as an incentive to both of them, he promises the hand of his daughter to the winner. The old man does not know, however, that both of his pupils are really in love with his daughter, and that the younger of the two is the one she prefers. The older of the pupils is a better violin maker than the younger one. They all know this and, of course, the younger man is unhappy and disconsolate. But he does not figure on the generous nature of his comrade, who, knowing that it would be useless for him to try to win the fair maiden's hand, secretly exchanges violins on the night before the tournament. The younger pupil wins both the title and the girl. The older one retires and gives up his thoughts to his art and lives with the satisfaction of knowing that he has made the prize-winning violin.
—Moving Picture World synopsis