Ayars, Contributions to the Art of Music in America by the Music Industries of Boston (1937) — the Squier, Farley, Rettberg, Rockwell and Elias Howe matter

Everyone this source names

This document prints 125 names. A name found this way is the weakest thing this site records: the book names the person, and nothing more is said. It is not a line in a record — the lines that actually rest on this source are listed above, each with its own confidence. 99 of the names below reach a record on this site; lines from this source have been written for 0. The rest are names and nothing else — which is an honest description of the evidence, and an invitation: if you know one of these makers, we want to hear from you.

1. Blyth, Samuel p. 194 draft record
2. Crehore, Benjamin pp. 194–95 draft record
3. Green, William p. 195 draft record
4. Green & Allen p. 195 draft record
5. Allen, Samuel (Deacon) p. 195 draft record
6. White, Ira Johnson pp. 195–96, 198 draft record
7. White, Asa Warren pp. 196–98 draft record
8. White, James Henry p. 196 draft record
9. Prentiss, Henry p. 196 draft record
10. Giradol p. 196 mention only — no record here yet

    At Henry Prentiss’s, A. W. White worked “with a violin maker named Giradol, a quick workman, who worked on all forms of stringed instruments.” No first name printed.

11. Baker, Calvin p. 197 draft record
12. Baker, Calvin p. 258 draft record
13. Weeman, Orin pp. 197, 202–03 draft record
14. Alden p. 197 mention only — no record here yet

    “And for a while also a man named Alden” — workman for A. W. White. No first name printed.

15. White, Ira E. p. 198 draft record
16. Gemünder, George p. 198 mention only — no record here yet

    “Probably the first really noted violin maker in Boston,” come in 1847 from Württemberg; violins made during his Boston residence at 357 Washington St. won medals at the London World’s Fair of 1851; “his instruments have often been mistaken for Cremonas”; after a few years in Boston he went to New York.

17. Squier, Victor Carroll p. 200 mention only — no record here yet

    “His son, Victor Carroll, who worked with him, now has his own business in Battle Creek, Michigan, as stringed instrument maker, repairer and dealer, and manufacturer of wound strings.”

18. Goss, Walter Solon p. 200 draft record
19. White, Maurice p. 201 draft record
20. Schindler, Hugo pp. 201, 264–65 draft record
21. Weeman, Beal & Holmberg pp. 195, 202 draft record
22. Beal, Fenner L. p. 202 draft record
23. Holmberg, Bernard p. 202 draft record
24. Jacob Thoma & Son p. 203 mention only — no record here yet

    Established 1880 by Jacob Thoma; importing and dealing in high grade violins, violas, violoncellos, bows, cases, strings; repairing violins and bows; violin making; appraising. Worked for Franz Kneisel and the Kneisel Quartette. “Thoma Solo Violins and Violas” of selected old tonewood on Stradivarius and Guarnerius models; winds silver “G” and aluminum “D” strings. Listed in Bachmann (her note).

25. Thoma, Jacob p. 203 mention only — no record here yet

    Founder, 1880 — “a German who had had a number of years of experience previously in Leipzig”; in the old Music Hall Building 1898, 47 Winter St. 1901, 100 Boylston St. to about 1934.

26. Thoma, Alexander p. 203 draft record
27. John A. Gould & Sons pp. 203–05 draft record
28. Gould, John A. pp. 194–95, 198, 203–05 draft record
29. Gould, Erik pp. 191, 205 draft record
30. Gould, Orin p. 204 draft record
31. Schultz, Henry F. pp. 205–06 draft record
32. Powers, Clark p. 205 draft record
33. Powers, Clark p. 261 draft record
34. Story, Charles p. 205 draft record
35. Robinson, Robert p. 205 draft record
36. Bryant, Edmund F. pp. 206–07 draft record
37. Edler, J. H. p. 207 draft record
38. Friedrich, John p. 207 draft record
39. Lind, Albert pp. 207–08 mention only — no record here yet

    “A violinist, established his own business as a violin maker, repairer, and dealer in 1900 after working in various European shops”; high class trade in old violins, violas and ’cellos at 203 St. Botolph St. Makes the “Albert Lind” violins with his own varnish — 112 to date on his own model patterned after Stradivarius; his last twelve on “the new scientific principle of perfect vibration.” Repairing the major part of his business. (At p. 261 Freeman A. Oliver’s violins are said to have been “made mostly by A. Lind, a violinist.”) Listed in the Guide (her note).

40. Musicians’ Supply Company pp. 208–09 draft record
41. Oettinger, Adolph Joseph pp. 208–09 draft record
42. Martino, Giuseppi (Joseph) p. 209 draft record
43. Bryant, Oliver H. p. 209 draft record
44. Baltzerson, Peter p. 210 draft record
45. Stanley, Carlton F. pp. 210–11 draft record
46. Stanley, F. O. pp. 210–11 draft record
47. Johnson, F. Lincoln p. 211 draft record
48. Anderberg, Ernest A. p. 195 draft record
49. Allen and Ganshirt, Inc. p. 258 draft record
50. Allen, John M. p. 258 draft record
51. Ganshirt, William p. 258 draft record
52. Borg, Peter N. p. 258 draft record
53. Catlin, Edward N. p. 258 draft record
54. Cyr, Peter p. 258 draft record
55. Daniels, G(eo). W. p. 259 draft record
56. Emerson, Elijah p. 259 draft record
57. Farley, Charles E. p. 259 draft record
58. Farley, Nathan F. p. 259 draft record
59. Prescott, Abraham p. 259 draft record
60. Flather, Osborne P. p. 259 draft record
61. François, G. M. p. 259 mention only — no record here yet

    Boston (date unstated), then 206 McCance Block, Pittsburgh, 1916. “Came to Boston from France and worked in the Boston City Dispensary as a professional pharmacist. In his free time he repaired and made some violins. He moved to Pittsburgh where he is a maker of violins, on classic models, of forty odd years’ experience, and a repairer of old violins” — from the Guide, p. 27 (her note).

62. Gervais, Trefflé pp. 198, 260 draft record
63. Grover, L(eonard) O. p. 260 mention only — no record here yet

    27 Union Park 1878-1901, 12 Greenwich Park 1902-04. “Music teacher first, listed as violin repairer 1878-1904 for himself. Worked for Thompson & Odell as repairer. Made some fair instruments.” Also named in the Thompson & Odell entry, p. 262.

64. Haskell, A(lfred) R. p. 260 mention only — no record here yet

    150 Tremont St. 1916 (Oliver Ditson Company). “Was born in Mass. in 1875 and learned the trade with O. H. Bryant, beginning as repairer. He started making violins about 1906. He worked somewhat for himself, but was with Oliver Ditson Company in 1916 as expert maker and repairer, and has since died.” Information largely from the Guide, p. 24 (her note).

65. Colton, Walter E. p. 261 draft record
66. Howe, Edward F. p. 261 draft record
67. Marquardt, Geo. W. p. 261 draft record
68. Oliver, Freeman A. p. 261 draft record
69. O’Loughlin, Terrence p. 261 draft record
70. Rettberg, Raoul p. 262 mention only — no record here yet

    309 Huntington Ave. 1928, 791 Tremont St. 1930, 250 Huntington Ave. 1932, 46 La Grange St. 1935. “Mr. Rettberg is an expert bow maker of many years’ standing, and a maker and repairer of violins. He also knows the ancient stringed instruments as he has made at least one viole d’amour.” Her note 16: the La Grange St. shop has been given up and the writer could not learn whether he continues elsewhere.

71. Robinson, Robert p. 262 draft record
72. Rockwell, D(avid) B(ailey) p. 262 draft record
73. Thompson & Odell p. 208 draft record
74. Thompson & Odell p. 262 draft record
75. Turner, Richard H. pp. 260, 263 draft record
76. White, James H. p. 263 draft record
77. White, J. Henry p. 263 draft record
78. White, Maurice p. 263 draft record
79. Young, Joseph A. pp. 260, 263 draft record
80. Lockhart, Wm. J. p. 264 draft record
81. Hodgdon, Jas. B. p. 264 draft record
82. McCarty, Albert A. p. 264 draft record
83. C. Saladino & Sons p. 264 draft record
84. H. Schindler & Co., Inc. pp. 264–65 draft record
85. Schindler, Otto p. 264 mention only — no record here yet

    Co-founder with Hugo Schindler of Otto Schindler & Co., musical string manufacturers, 1889.

86. Tuck, J. Warren p. 265 draft record
87. Houghton, C. C. p. 265 draft record
88. Wood, Watson p. 265 draft record
89. Elias Howe Co. p. 260 draft record
90. Robinson & Schultz pp. 205, 262 draft record
91. Ditson, Oliver, Company pp. 205, 260, 263 draft record
92. Elias Howe Company pp. 260, 263 draft record
93. Hardie, A. p. 205 draft record
94. E. F. & O. H. Bryant p. 206 draft record
95. White, Ira J. p. 206 draft record
96. Vega Company, The p. 262 draft record
97. Berliner, E. p. 263 draft record
98. Elias, Howe scan page 37, line 3 draft record
99. Mr, Squier scan page 225, line 5 draft record
100. Walter, Solon scan page 226, line 5 draft record
101. Mr, Gould scan page 231, line 5 draft record
102. Mr, Turner scan page 289, line 5 mention only — no record here yet

     Mr. Turner is a violinist who came from Maine to Boston in 1920 and worked as expert violin repairer for the Musicians' Supply Company and Elias Howe before starting in business for himself in 1932. — trade term as printed: "violin repairer" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

103. Asa, Warren scan page 222, line 7 mention only — no record here yet

     "Asa Warren White was born in Barre, Massachusetts in 1826. He worked in his young days for Henry Prentiss15 [dealer and publisher], with a violin maker named Giradol, a quick workman, who worked on all forms of stringed instruments. In 1849 Ira J. and A. W. White formed a partnership and worked together repairing and making different instruments. Asa Warren made his in- — trade term as printed: "violin maker" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

104. Mr, Edler scan page 233, line 7 draft record
105. Jerome, Bonaparte scan page 224, line 9 draft record
106. Howe, William scan page 222, line 10 draft record
107. Jerome, Incident scan page 224, line 11 mention only — no record here yet

     18 Incident related by Trefflé Gervais, violin maker. — trade term as printed: "violin maker" — surname inherited from the headword at line 9: "Jerome Bonaparte Squier, called by violin teachers the Stradivarius of America, was another noted Boston violin maker. He was listed in Boston business directories from 1886 to 1906 at 339 Washington St. as J. B. Squier or J. Bonaparte Squier & Co. Later his shop was on Boylston St. for a time and then at his home, Centre Street, Roxbury. He was born in Ohio in 1838, and was originally a shoe pattern designer. Mr. Squier came from Michigan to Lewis-" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

108. Howe, William scan page 224, line 14 draft record
109. Mr, Rettberg scan page 288, line 16 draft record
110. Albert, Lind scan page 233, line 17 mention only — no record here yet

     Albert Lind, a violinist, established his own business as a violin maker, repairer, and dealer in 1900 after working in various European shops. He has a high class trade as a dealer in old violins, violas and 'cellos and also handles cases, strings and accessories, at 203 St. Botoph St., Boston. — trade term as printed: "violin maker" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

111. Asa, His scan page 223, line 18 mention only — no record here yet

     His shop in Boston was a training school for some of the later violin makers. He died in 1893. The following story is related of him: — trade term as printed: "violin makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 16: "Asa Warren White apparently followed the lead of Elias Howe in collecting old instruments for sale, as the same advertisement stated, "I keep in stock a line of fine old Violins—Italian, French & German. A list sent upon application." He imported French violins of the celebrated Italian models which he graduated and adjusted and sold for $17 alone, with bow and case for $21. He also graduated and adjusted German violins selling them for $9 alone, with bow and case for $13. He kept in stock for sale violins, violas and 'cellos of different grades, boxes, cases, trimmings of all kinds, and Italian and German strings by the best known makers. 17" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

112. Albert, Listed scan page 233, line 19 mention only — no record here yet

     13 Listed in The Violinist's Guide. American Violin Makers p. 35. — trade term as printed: "Violin Makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 17: "Albert Lind, a violinist, established his own business as a violin maker, repairer, and dealer in 1900 after working in various European shops. He has a high class trade as a dealer in old violins, violas and 'cellos and also handles cases, strings and accessories, at 203 St. Botoph St., Boston." — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

113. Greenwich, Music scan page 286, line 19 mention only — no record here yet

     Music teacher first, listed as violin repairer 1878-1904 for himself. Worked for Thompson & Odell as repairer. — trade term as printed: "violin repairer" — surname inherited from the headword at line 16: "1902-04—12 Greenwich Park" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

114. Mr, Listed scan page 232, line 20 mention only — no record here yet

     12 Listed in Poidras, Henri. Critical and Documentary Dictionary of Violin Makers Old and Modern p. 181 as a contemporary maker. — trade term as printed: "Violin Makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 13: "Mr. Bryant was born at Woodstock, New Hampshire. He made his first violin as a boy and played it at husking bees thereabouts. When he was thirteen years old, he went to Lowell, Massachusetts, to study violin with Oscar Greiner, the concert master of the Germania Orchestra. Later, he studied with Julius Eichberg and Bernhardt Listemann at the old Boston Conservatory of Music of which he is a graduate." — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

115. Charles, Was scan page 285, line 20 mention only — no record here yet

     Was an American of pure English descent. His father, Nathan F., had been assistant to Abraham Prescott of Deerfield, N. H., one of the earliest bass and 'cello makers in the country. Charles E. Farley began making violins almost from babyhood. He really started in 1883. Up to 1916 he had made 290 violins. His latest period commenced in 1900 with alteration to a new model considered superior to preceding ones. His violins are of good substantial thickness. He made and used his own amber oil varnish. The color varied. He died toward the close of the World War. — trade term as printed: "'cello makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 19: "CHARLES E. FARLEY 6" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

116. Howe, William scan page 221, line 25 draft record
117. Howe, William scan page 221, line 27 draft record
118. Poidras, Henri scan page 287, line 31 draft record
119. Joseph, Listed scan page 289, line 31 mention only — no record here yet

     15 Listed in Poidras, Henri. Critical and Documentary Dictionary of Violin Makers Old and Modern P. 202 as a contemporary bow maker. — trade term as printed: "Violin Makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 28: "JOSEPH A. YOUNG 21" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

120. Bachmann, Information scan page 287, line 33 mention only — no record here yet

     10 Information largely from The Violinist's Guide. American Violin Makers P. 24. — trade term as printed: "Violin Makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 32: "9 Bachmann, Alberto. An Encyclopedia of the Violin P. 54." — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

121. Bachmann, Listed scan page 287, line 34 mention only — no record here yet

     11 Listed in Bachmann, Alberto. An Encyclopedia of the Violin P. 54 as an American violin maker. — trade term as printed: "violin maker" — surname inherited from the headword at line 32: "9 Bachmann, Alberto. An Encyclopedia of the Violin P. 54." — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

122. Howe, William scan page 289, line 36 draft record
123. Incident scan page 224, line 11 draft record
124. Albert, Lind scan page 233, line 17 mention only — no record here yet

     Albert Lind, a violinist, established his own business as a violin maker, repairer, and dealer in 1900 after working in various European shops. He has a high class trade as a dealer in old violins, violas and 'cellos and also handles cases, strings and accessories, at 203 St. Botoph St., Boston. — trade term as printed: "violin maker" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)

125. Edmund, Listed scan page 232, line 20 mention only — no record here yet

     12 Listed in Poidras, Henri. Critical and Documentary Dictionary of Violin Makers Old and Modern p. 181 as a contemporary maker. — trade term as printed: "Violin Makers" — surname inherited from the headword at line 11: "EDMUND F. BRYANT12" — from OCR (read_as: ocr)