Bow & Bridge

Hel, Pierre Joseph

1842–1902

As printed

  1. A dictionary of violin makers (1896)

    Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years …

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    1. Heesom, Edward. Was working in London about 1748-50. He followed the Stainer pattern. Label: "Edward Heesom, Londini, fecit 1749."
    2. Heidegger. A maker in Passau.
    3. Heinle, J. A maker in Paris. Only one violin, dated 1761, of his is known.
    4. Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years with Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris, and for a year (1864-5) with Nicolas Darche at Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1865 he started his own business at 14, rue Nationale, Lille. He is an excellent workman and makes all his instruments himself; the pattern is very beautiful; the tone is good; he uses oil varnish; all the details are carefully finished. He also shows great skill in repairing old Italian instruments. He has a special method of seasoning the wood he uses, removing, without the use of fire or acids, every element that interferes with the tone. In 1886 he invented an ingenious method of fixing the pegs, which enables the strings to be gradually tightened, and prevents their suddenly running down; the shape of the head remains the same. Was awarded: Gold medal, Lille, 1882; diploma of honour, St. Omer, 1884;

  2. A dictionary of violin makers (n.d.)

    Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazriot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years …

    scan page 55, line 39See the scansource record

    Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years …

    scan page 55, line 39See the scansource record

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    2. Heinle, J. A maker in Paris. Only one violin, dated 1761, of his is known.
    4. Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazriot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years with Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris, and for a year (1864-5) with Nicolas Darche at Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1865 he started his own business at 14, rue Nationale, Lille. He was an excellent workman and made all his instruments himself; the pattern is very beautiful; the tone is good; he used oil varnish; all the details are carefully finished. He also showed great skill in repairing old Italian instruments. He had a special method of seasoning the wood he used, removing, without the use of fire or acids, every element that interferes with the tone. In 1886 he invented an ingenious method of fixing the pegs, which enables the strings to be gradually tightened, and prevents their suddenly running down; the shape of the head remains the same. Was awarded: gold medal, Lille, 1882; diploma of honour, St. Omer, 1884;

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    2. Heinle, J. A maker in Paris. Only one violin, dated 1761, of his is known.
    4. Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years with Sébastien Vuillaume in Paris, and for a year (1864-5) with Nicolas Darche at Aix-la-Chapelle. In 1865 he started his own business at 14, rue Nationale, Lille. He was an excellent workman and made all his instruments himself; the pattern is very beautiful; the tone is good; he used oil varnish; all the details are carefully finished. He also showed great skill in repairing old Italian instruments. He had a special method of seasoning the wood he used, removing, without the use of fire or acids, every element that interferes with the tone. In 1886 he invented an ingenious method of fixing the pegs, which enables the strings to be gradually tightened, and prevents their suddenly running down; the shape of the head remains the same. Was awarded: gold medal, Lille, 1882; diploma of honour, St. Omer, 1884;

  3. Violin tone and violin makers (1916)

    HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH.—Lille. Born 1842. Instruments of his workmanship are excellent in every detail. Form, material, and varnish are all most …

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    2. contemporary. A clever workman in various styles, including "modern antiques."
    4. HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH.—Lille. Born 1842. Instruments of his workmanship are excellent in every detail. Form, material, and varnish are all most praiseworthy, and he occupies a prominent place amongst makers of modern times. He obtained several medals. Instruments of an inferior grade, but not of his own workmanship, are of the "trade class," and of no particular account, although occasionally sold as genuine. They bear, or should bear, a distinctive label. The business is now carried on by a son (Pierre), who is well known as a dealer.
    6. HELD, JOHANN JOSEPH.—Enskirchen, Beuel. Died 1904. A clever workman, who obtained several medals, and seems to have had some theories of his own, one of which was impregnating the wood of his instruments. He was patronised by Ole Bull.
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  1. Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904)

    Hel, Pierre Joseph. — Lille. Geb. 8. Febr. 1842 in Mazirot bei Mirecourt.

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    1. Heisele (Aisselle), Jakob. — Modena. 1614. 1629.
    2. Ein deutscher, in Modena ansässiger Geigen- und Lautenmacher, auf den zuerst Valdrighi aufmerksam machte (No. 1428), indem er aus der Chronik von Spaccini (vom 10 Oct. 1614) citirt: È venuto moltidi sono un Tedesco habitare, che fa lauti e chittarini et simili instromenti, per excelentia* und einige urkundliche Belege beibringt, aus denen u. A. hervorgeht, dass H. auch Bögen gemacht hat.
    4. Hel, Pierre Joseph. — Lille. Geb. 8. Febr. 1842 in Mazirot bei Mirecourt.
    5. Nachdem er durch acht Jahre in Mirecourt das Geigenmachen erlernt hatte, kam er nach Paris zu Seb. Vuillaume, den er zwei Jahre später verliess, um nach Aachen zu Darche zu gehen. Im Jahre 1865 eröffnete er seine eigene Werkstatt in Lille und machte es sich zur Aufgabe, die grossen italienischen Meister (hauptsächlich Stradivari, Guarneri, Amati und Maggini) in allen Theilen genau zu copiren, wobei er auch auf den Lack besondere Sorgfalt verlegte, den er thatsächlich im Aussehen dem Cremoneser sehr nahe zu bringen versteht. Seine Geigen sind, was Schönheit der Arbeit und des Tons anbelangt, tadellos, und so erhielt er auch auf allen von ihm beschickten Ausstellungen erste Preise und wurde wiederholt als Juror berufen. Er erfand u. A. einen Verlängerungsstachel für das Violoncell und eine recht brauchbare Wirbelbefestigung.
    7. JOSEPH HEL

  2. An encyclopedia of the violin (1925)

    HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.

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    HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazirot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.

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    scan page 53, line 15

    2. HEESOM, EDWARD, London, 1748 to 1750.
    4. HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.
    6. HELLMER, KARL JOSEPH, Prague, b. 1739, d. 1811. Successor to his father Johann Georg Hellmer and pupil of Joh. Eberle. After finishing his apprenticeship in Germany, he returned to Prague in 1763. His violins resemble those of his father, except that they are flatter in places and have a brown varnish. He was not only an accomplished musician, but also a publisher of musical literature. One of his violins (1796) is in the Museum at Salzburg and two more (1771 and 1791) are in the Monastery of St. Margaret in Prague.

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    1. HASSERT (HASERT), J. C., Eisenach, 1728.
    2. HASSERT (HASERT), JOHANN CHRISTIAN, Rudolstadt, b. 1759, d. 1823.
    3. HEESOM, EDWARD, London, 1748 to 1750.
    4. HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazirot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.
    5. HELLMER, KARL JOSEPH, Prague, b. 1739, d. 1811. Successor to his father Johann Georg Hellmer and pupil of Joh. Eberle. After finishing his apprenticeship in Germany, he returned to Prague in 1763. His violins resemble those of his father, except that they are flatter in places and have a brown varnish. He was not only an accomplished musician, but also a publisher of musical literature. One of his violins (1796) is in the Museum at Salzburg and two more (1771 and 1791) are in the Monastery of St. Margaret in Prague.
    6. HEMSCH, JEAN-HENRY, Paris, 1747 to 1763.
    7. HENOCQ (HENOC), JEAN, Paris, 1763 to 1789.

  3. An encyclopedia of the violin (n.d.)

    HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.

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    1. HASSERT (HASERT), J. C., Eisenach, 1728.
    2. HASSERT (HASERT), JOHANN CHRISTIAN, Rudolstadt, b. 1759, d. 1823.
    3. HEESOM, EDWARD, London, 1748 to 1750.
    4. HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902.
    5. HELLMER, KARL JOSEPH, Prague, b. 1739, d. 1811. Successor to his father Johann Georg Hellmer and pupil of Joh. Eberle. After finishing his apprenticeship in Germany, he returned to Prague in 1763. His violins resemble those of his father, except that they are flatter in places and have a brown varnish. He was not only an accomplished musician, but also a publisher of musical literature. One of his violins (1796) is in the Museum at Salzburg and two more (1771 and 1791) are in the Monastery of St. Margaret in Prague.
    6. HEMSCH, JEAN-HENRY, Paris, 1747 to 1763.
    7. HENOCQ (HENOC), JEAN, Paris, 1763 to 1789.

Named in 6 books printed between 1896 and 1925. Read by software from scans of those pages, not yet checked by a person against the page. Entries from 6 books stand under this name, and the software judged them likely the same person. Tell us if that is wrong and we will split the record.

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Details and sources

Record note

One or more sources name this maker, and this record states only that: A dictionary of violin makers (1890); A dictionary of violin makers (1890); A dictionary of violin makers (1896); An encyclopedia of the violin (1925); An encyclopedia of the violin (1925); An Encyclopedia of the Violin (1926); Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904); Violin tone and violin makers (1916). Printed under this name in 6 different volumes and treated as one person on a station reading before merge; the volumes share no distinctive printed word, so whether they name one man is an open question on this record, for a person to settle. Beyond what is printed there, nothing on this site confirms this record and no claim has been invented — not established, and we want to hear from you if you can change it.

What the books say

Places and dates of work
Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazriot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years … reported1
Places and dates of work
Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years … reported1
Places and dates of work
Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842, at Mazirot, near Mirecourt (Vosges). Was apprenticed for seven years in Mirecourt, was then for two years … reported1
Places and dates of work
HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902. reported1
Places and dates of work
HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902. reported1
Places and dates of work
HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazirot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902. reported1
Places and dates of work
Hel, Pierre Joseph. — Lille. Geb. 8. Febr. 1842 in Mazirot bei Mirecourt. reported1
Places and dates of work
HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH.—Lille. Born 1842. Instruments of his workmanship are excellent in every detail. Form, material, and varnish are all most … reported1
Born (date and place)
Born 1842. As printed in the cited source: “Hel, Pierre Joseph, b. Feb. 8, 1842” reported1
Died (date and place)
Died 1902. As printed in the cited source: “HEL, PIERRE JOSEPH, Lille, b. Mazriot, 1842, d. Lille, 1902” reported1

How the pages were read

10 of the 10 lines here were read from machine text (software that turns a photo of a page into words), not by a person looking at the page image. 3 of them rest on a section heading above a list of names, not on a trade word printed on their own line: “A DICTIONARY OF VIOLIN MAKERS.”, “VIOLIN MAKERS IN EUROPE”, “THE OLD MASTERS AS VIOLIN MAKERS”.

Notes

  1. Read from machine text (software that turns a photo of a page into words, or a typed transcription), not by a person looking at the page image. ↩

The books behind this record

This record draws on 6 sources. Each is listed below with how it was read, because a claim read from a photo of the page is stronger than one read from machine text.

  1. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London: Novello, n.d.). archive.org, dictionaryofviol00stai. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol00stai.machine textcited for 2 linessource record

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  2. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London: Novello, n.d.). archive.org, dictionaryofviol1899stai. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol1899stai.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  3. Stainer, C. (Cecie), 1867-1937, A dictionary of violin makers (London ; New York: Novello, Ewer, 1896). archive.org, dictionaryofviol00stai_0. https://archive.org/details/dictionaryofviol00stai_0.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  4. Alberto Bachmann, An encyclopedia of the violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7.machine textcited for 2 linessource record

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  5. Bachmann, Alberto and Ysaye, Eugene, An encyclopedia of the violin (New York, Da Capo Press, n.d.). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000bach_r6r5. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000bach_r6r5.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  6. Alberto Bachmann, An Encyclopedia of the Violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  7. Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904). archive.org, bub_gb_cWCqAAAAIAAJ. https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_cWCqAAAAIAAJ.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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  8. Violin tone and violin makers (London: Chatto & Windus, 1916). archive.org, violintoneviolin00moyaiala. https://archive.org/details/violintoneviolin00moyaiala.machine textcited for 1 linesource record

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