Gilkes, William – Bow & Bridge

1811–1875

As printed

British Violin Makers (1920)
GILKES, WILLIAM, London: 1811–75. He was a pupil of his father, whom he succeeded in business. He made many double-basses and other instruments, which are of about average merit.
scan pages 199, 201 · line 16See the scans: 199, 201source record
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scan page 199, line 16
1. 34 JAMES STERET, BUCKINGHAM GATE,
2. WESTMINSTER.
4. GILKES, WILLIAM, London: 1811-75. He was a pupil of his father, whom he succeeded in business. He made many double-basses and other instruments, which are of about average merit.
6. GIRVAN, THOMAS, Edinburgh: nineteenth century. Average work.
The Violin: Its Famous Makers and their Imitators (1875)
GILKES, William, London, born 1811, died 1875. Son of Samuel Gilkes. Has made a great number of instruments of various patterns, chiefly Double Basses.
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2. GILKES, Samuel, London, born in 1787, died in 1827. Was born at Morton Pinkney, in Northamptonshire. He became an apprentice of Charles Harris, whose style he followed with much success. Upon leaving Harris he engaged himself to William Forster, making many instruments for him, retaining, however, all the features of the style of Harris. In the year 1810, he left the workshop of Forster, and commenced business on his own account in James Street, Buckingham Gate, where the few instruments bearing his name were made. Too much cannot be said in praise of this excellent maker: he was a thorough artist, and the exquisite finish of his works evidence that the making of them was to him a labour of love. Amati was his favourite model.
4. GILKES, William, London, born 1811, died 1875. Son of Samuel Gilkes. Has made a great number of instruments of various patterns, chiefly Double Basses.
6. GOUGH, Walter. An indifferent workman.
Old violins (1905)
Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, about 1811-75, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster, London. Prolific maker; chiefly double basses.
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scan page 276, line 9
1. Gilbert, Nicolas Louis. Metz, 1700.
2. Gilbert, Simon, son of Nicolas Louis Gilbert. Metz, about 1737.
3. Gilkes, Samuel, 1787-1827. Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire. London. Worked for William Forster (1764-1824). Nicola Amati pattern; clever maker.
4. Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, about 1811-75, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster, London. Prolific maker; chiefly double basses.
5. Gioffreda, B. Turin, in 1860.
6. Giordano (Giordane), Alberto. Cremona, about 1735-40.
7. Giorgi, Nicola. Turin, 1745.

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La lutherie et les luthiers (1889)
GILKES (WILLIAM). — Né en 1811, mort en 1875, fils du précédent. Il a laissé beaucoup d’instruments qui sont moins estimés que ceux de son père.
scan page 277, line 19See the scan
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2. Sa lutherie, faite sur les modèles de Nicolas Amati, est très estimée en Angleterre.
4. GILKES (WILLIAM). — Né en 1811, mort en 1875, fils du précédent. Il a laissé beaucoup d'instruments qui sont moins estimés que ceux de son père.
6. HARDIE. — Il y eut deux luthiers de ce nom à Édimbourg :
7. MATTHEW, vers 1820, et son fils Thomas mort en 1856, lutherie ordinaire.
A dictionary of violin makers (1896)
Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father …
scan page 45, line 27See the scan
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2. Gilkes, Samuel, b. 1787, Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire; d. Nov., 1827, London. Apprenticed to Charles Harris, sen., in London, afterwards worked for William Forster (1764-1824). In 1810 he started his own business, labelling his instruments with his own name. He followed the Nicola Amati pattern, and was a clever maker, although his style showed traces of his training under Charles Harris. He used varnish of rich quality, and his work was beautifully finished. He made various classes of instruments for country dealers. Label: "Gilkes from Forster's, violin and violoncello maker, 34, James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster."
4. Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father and succeeded to his business in James Street, but afterwards moved to Dartmouth Street. He made a great many instruments, of various patterns, principally double-basses, but did not gain the same reputation as his father. He ceased to make instruments for some time before his death.
6. Gioffreda, B. A maker in Turin in 1860.
A dictionary of violin makers (n.d.)
Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father …
scan page 47, line 27See the scans: 47, 47source record
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2. Gilkes, Samuel, b. 1787, Morton Pinkney, Northamptonshire; d. Nov., 1827, London. Apprenticed to Charles Harris, sen., in London, afterwards worked for William Forster (1764-1824). In 1810 he started his own business, labelling his instruments with his own name. He followed the Nicola Amati pattern, and was a clever maker, although his style showed traces of his training under Charles Harris. He used varnish of rich quality, and his work was beautifully finished. He made various classes of instruments for country dealers. Label: "Gilkes from Forster's, violin and violoncello maker, 34, James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster."
4. Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father and succeeded to his business in James Street, but afterwards moved to Dartmouth Street. He made a great many instruments, of various patterns, principally double-basses, but did not gain the same reputation as his father. He ceased to make instruments for some time before his death.
6. Gioffreda, B. A maker in Turin in 1860.
Les ancêtres du violon et du violoncelle, les luthiers et les fabricants d'archets (1901)
GILKES (WILLIAM). — Londres, 1811 † 1875. Fils du précédent. Il a construit quantité d’instruments, surtout des contrebasses.
scan page 279, line 29; scan page 285, line 46See the scans: 279, 285source record
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scan page 279, line 29
1. Samuel Gilkes
2. fecit London 1812
4. GILKES (WILLIAM). — Londres, 1811 † 1875. Fils du précédent. Il a construit quantité d’instruments, surtout des contrebasses.
Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904)
Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London.
scan pages 244, 246 · line 1See the scans: 244, 246source record
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scan page 244, line 1
1. Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London.
3. Sohn und Schüler von Samuel G., dessen Nachfolger er wurde. Er verlegte die Werkstatt später in die Dartmouth Street und machte viele Geigen nach verschiedenen Modellen. Er gehört zu den besten neueren Nachahmern Maggini's und verstand es auch gut, den Lack zu imitiren. Im Ganzen ist er aber weniger bedeutend als sein Vater. Am Besten gelangen ihm Contrabässe.
Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1922)
Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London
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1. Schüler von Charles Harris sen.; arbeitete bei William III Forster und eröffnete 1810 seine eigene Werkstatt. Er arbeitete im Stile von Harris nach dem Amatimodell recht sauber und verwendete einen guten Lack. Er wurde auch von Händlern viel beschäftigt. Seine Geigen und Violoncelli sind heute sehr gesucht.
2. Geigenzettel: Gilkes / from Forster’s / Violin and Violoncello Maker / 34, James Street Buckingham Gate / Westminster. (gedruckt) und Abb. 287.
4. Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London
5. Sohn und Schüler von Samuel G., dessen Nachfolger er wurde. Er verlegte die Werkstatt später in die Dartmouth Street und machte viele Geigen nach verschiedenen Modellen. Er gehört zu den besten neueren Nachahmern Magginis und verstand es auch gut, den Lack zu imitieren. Im ganzen ist er aber weniger bedeutend als sein Vater. Am besten gelangen ihm Kontrabässe.
7. Gilmore, Richard. — Melbourne (Carlton). 1880
An encyclopedia of the violin (1925)
GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875.
scan pages 49, 51 · line 7See the scans: 49, 51source record
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1. GILBERT, NICOLAS-LOUIS, Metz, 1701 to 1706.
2. GILCHRIST, JAMES, Glasgow, b. 1832, d. 1894.
3. GILKES, SAMUEL, London, b. Morton Pinkney (Northamptonshire), 1787, d. London, 1827. A pupil of Charles Harris, Sr., who worked with William Forster, and in 1810 opened his own shop. He copied the Harris model, and also tried the Amati model several times without success. He did good clean work, using the best wood and a good varnish. He was much sought after by dealers, and his violins are at the present time in great demand.
4. GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875.
5. GIORDANO, ALBERTO, Cremona, 1725 to 1740.
6. GIORGI, NICOLA, Turin, 1717 to 1760.
7. GIULANI (GIULIANI), —, Cremona, Saluzzo, 1660.
An encyclopedia of the violin (n.d.)
GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875.
scan page 53, line 7See the scan
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1. GILBERT, NICOLAS-LOUIS, Metz, 1701 to 1706.
2. GILCHRIST, JAMES, Glasgow, b. 1832, d. 1894.
3. GILKES, SAMUEL, London, b. Morton Pinkney (Northamptonshire), 1787, d. London, 1827. A pupil of Charles Harris, Sr., who worked with William Forster, and in 1810 opened his own shop. He copied the Harris model, and also tried the Amati model several times without success. He did good clean work, using the best wood and a good varnish. He was much sought after by dealers, and his violins are at the present time in great demand.
4. GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875.
5. GIORDANO, ALBERTO, Cremona, 1725 to 1740.
6. GIORGI, NICOLA, Turin, 1717 to 1760.
7. GIULANI (GIULIANI), —, Cremona, Saluzzo, 1660.

Named in 11 books printed between 1875 and 1925. Read by software from scans of those pages, not yet checked by a person against the page. Entries from 11 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

Printed in 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); British Violin Makers (1920); British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work (1920); Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904); Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904); Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1922); La lutherie et les luthiers (1889); Les ancêtres du violon et du violoncelle, les luthiers et les fabricants d’archets (1901); Les ancêtres du violon et du violoncelle, les luthiers et les fabricants d’archets; (1901); Old violins (1905); The Violin: Its Famous Makers and their Imitators (1875); The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (1875), and nowhere else on this site: that is the entire basis of this maker’s record. Printed under this name in 11 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. No claim beyond the printed naming is invented here — not established is the accurate word for it, and we want to hear from you if that can change.

What the books say

Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father … reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father … reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, b. about 1811, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster; d. 1875, London. Taught by his father … reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, WILLIAM, London, b. Tothill Field, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), 1811, d. London, 1875. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, WILLIAM, London: 1811–75. He was a pupil of his father, whom he succeeded in business. He made many double-basses and other instruments, which are of about average merit. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, WILLIAM, London: 1811-75. He was a pupil of his father, whom he succeeded in business. He made many double-basses and other instruments, which are of about average merit. reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London. reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London. reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William. — London. Geb. 1811 in Tothill Fields, Grey Coat Str. (Westminster), † 1875 in London reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES (WILLIAM). — Né en 1811, mort en 1875, fils du précédent. Il a laissé beaucoup d’instruments qui sont moins estimés que ceux de son père. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES (WILLIAM). — Londres, 1811 † 1875. Fils du précédent. Il a construit quantité d’instruments, surtout des contrebasses. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES (WILLIAM). — Londres, 1811 † 1875. Fils du précédent. Il a construit quantité d’instruments, surtout des contrebasses. reported¹
Places and dates of work: Gilkes, William, son of Samuel Gilkes, about 1811-75, in Grey Coat Street, Tothill Fields, Westminster, London. Prolific maker; chiefly double basses. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, William, London, born 1811, died 1875. Son of Samuel Gilkes. Has made a great number of instruments of various patterns, chiefly Double Basses. reported¹
Places and dates of work: GILKES, William, London, born 1811, died 1875. Son of Samuel Gilkes. Has made a great number of instruments of various patterns, chiefly Double Basses. reported¹
Born (date and place): Born 1811. As printed in the cited source: “GILKES, William, London, born 1811” reported¹
Died (date and place): Died 1875. As printed in the cited source: “GILKES, William, London, born 1811, died 1875” reported¹

How the pages were read

19 of the 19 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. 6 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”, “VIOLIN MAKERS.”, “DICTIONARY OF VIOLIN MAKERS”, “ENGLISH MAKERS.”, “SECTION XII.—GERMAN AND DUTCH MAKERS.”.

Notes

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 11 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.

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 1 linesource record
scan page 47, line 27
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
scan page 47, line 27
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
scan page 45, line 27
Alberto Bachmann, An encyclopedia of the violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_h3k7.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 49, line 7
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
scan page 53, line 7
Alberto Bachmann, An Encyclopedia of the Violin (1925). archive.org, encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediaofvi0000albe_u1d5.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 51, line 7
W. Meredith Morris, British Violin Makers (London: Robert Scott, 1920). archive.org, bwb_W9-CSA-426. https://archive.org/details/bwb_W9-CSA-426.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 201, line 16
W. Meredith Morris, British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work (R. Scott, 1920). archive.org, britishviolinmak0000wmer. https://archive.org/details/britishviolinmak0000wmer.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 199, line 16
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
scan page 244, line 1
Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1904). archive.org, diegeigenundlau00vongoog. https://archive.org/details/diegeigenundlau00vongoog.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 246, line 1
Die Geigen und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart (1922). archive.org, diegeigenundlaut02lt. https://archive.org/details/diegeigenundlaut02lt.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 170, line 23
La lutherie et les luthiers (1889). archive.org, lalutherieetlesl00vida. https://archive.org/details/lalutherieetlesl00vida.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 277, line 19
Les ancêtres du violon et du violoncelle, les luthiers et les fabricants d’archets (1901). archive.org, lesanctresduviol02gril. https://archive.org/details/lesanctresduviol02gril.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 279, line 29
Les ancêtres du violon et du violoncelle, les luthiers et les fabricants d’archets; (1901). archive.org, lesanctresduvi02gril. https://archive.org/details/lesanctresduvi02gril.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 285, line 46
Haweis, H. R. (Hugh Reginald), 1839-1901, Old violins (Edinburgh, Grant, 1905). archive.org, oldviolins00hawe. https://archive.org/details/oldviolins00hawe.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 276, line 9
The Violin: Its Famous Makers and their Imitators (1875). archive.org, bwb_W9-CSA-425. https://archive.org/details/bwb_W9-CSA-425.machine textcited for 3 linessource record
scan page 248, line 5
Hart, George, 1839-1891. [from old catalog], The violin: its famous makers and their imitators (London, Dubau and co. [etc.], 1875). archive.org, violinitsfamous01hartgoog. https://archive.org/details/violinitsfamous01hartgoog.machine textcited for 1 linesource record
scan page 250, line 5

Cite this record

Chicago (note)“Gilkes, William,” Bow & Bridge, last modified 20 September 2026, https://bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/ (accessed 20 September 2026).

Chicago (bibliography)Bow & Bridge. “Gilkes, William.” Last modified 20 September 2026. https://bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/.

MLA 9“Gilkes, William.” Bow & Bridge, 20 Sept. 2026, bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2026.

APA 7Bow & Bridge. (2026, September 20). Gilkes, William. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/

BibTeX@misc{bb-gilkes-william,
  author       = {{Bow \& Bridge}},
  title        = {{Gilkes, William}},
  howpublished = {{Bow \& Bridge}},
  year         = {2026},
  month        = sep,
  note         = {Last modified 20 September 2026},
  url          = {https://bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/},
  urldate      = {2026-09-20}
}

RISTY  - ELEC
TI  - Gilkes, William
AU  - Bow & Bridge
T2  - Bow & Bridge
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/09/20
N1  - Last modified 20 September 2026
UR  - https://bowandbridge.com/makers/gilkes-william/
Y2  - 2026/09/20
ER  -

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