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Scan 20
A dictionary of violin makers
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 10. See the scan on archive.org.
1Bertolotti, De. See Gasparo da Salò.
2Bertrand, Nicolas. A maker in Paris about 1686 to 1735. He made some violins of no great value, but is better known for various viols: a bass-viol dated 1687; another with the label "Nicolas Bertrand, Paris, 1720," well made, with a thick red varnish; a treble-viol dated 1701 in the Brussels Museum; a small five-stringed viol, dated 1714 in the Paris Museum; and a bass dated 1720. His name is often branded on his instruments.
3Besler, Norbert. See "Bedler."
4Betts, John Edward, known as "Old John Betts," b. 1755, at Stamford, Lincolnshire; d. March, 1823, was buried at Cripplegate Church. Pupil of Richard Duke, senior, in London. He made few instruments; the sound-holes are rather wide, the purfling broad, and the scrolls well cut; but he had great knowledge of Italian instruments. Clever workmen, such as the Panormos, Bernhard Fendt, his nephew Edward, and John Carter were employed by him, principally to copy old English and Italian instruments. Label: "Jo. Betts, No. 2, near Northgate, the Royal Exchange, London, 1782." He advertised that he "makes in the neatest manner, violins the patterns of Ant. Stradivarius, Hieronymus Amatus, Jacobus Stainer, and Tyrols. Equal for the fine, full, mellow tone to those made in Cremona."
5Betts (Ned), Edward, nephew of John Betts, like him a pupil of Richard Duke. He died before his uncle, probably between 1815 and 1820. He was a good maker, his instruments had a powerful tone, and all the work most carefully finished. He made very good copies of older makers, more especially of N. Amati. Other members of this family were not violin makers themselves though they continued the business as dealers.
6Bianchi, Nicola, b. about 1800 at Genoa; worked till about 1875. Pupil of Ceruti at Cremona, Guadagnini and Pressenda at Turin. Clever repairer of old instruments. Lived about five years at rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs in Paris, but having quarrelled with the violin makers there, he returned to Genoa, and finally settled in Nice, where he died. His instruments show excellent work, and bear comparison with those of good modern makers.
7Bindernagel (Binternagel), of Gotha. Was first a carpenter, then became an apprentice to Ernst, when Otto left Ernst in order to settle at Weimar. He followed the Stradivari pattern, but his instruments are not well made. He also made harps and guitars. He died in 1845.
8Bittner, David. A maker in Vienna, d. 1887. He did a large trade in America. Exhibited a violin and violoncello in London 1862.
9Blair, John. Worked in Edinburgh in 1820 with Matthew Hardie.
10Blaise. A maker in Mirecourt in 1820. Instruments not particularly well made.
11Blanchard, Paul François, grandson of François Blanchard, a maker of guitars; b. Feb. 10, 1851, Mirecourt (Vosges); apprenticed there (1865) to Auguste Darte (pupil of J. B. Vuillaume and successor to Nicolas Vuillaume) 1868, worked a few months at Marseilles with Daniel, and in October, 1869, settled at Lyons, working under Silvestre neveu, until he started his own business, [address hidden], in 1876, which he moved, 1890, to [address hidden]. Two workmen are employed, one for repairs, the other for new instruments. Blanchard himself repairs old instruments and makes all the new violins, which have his label: "Fait par Paul Blanchard à Lyon en 18—, No. —," priced at £12 each. Up till now he has made 379 instruments (all numbered), he makes from 25 to 30 a year; about the same number made by his workmen are sold at half the price of his own and are labelled: "Fait dans l'atelier de P. Blanchard, Lyon, 18—." Instruments made by his pupils are sold at £3 or £4 each, and have a label representing the Lyons city arms inscribed, "Lugdunum, anno 18—." Blanchard generally follows the Stradivari and G. Guarneri patterns, but does not attempt to artificially age his violins; the tone shows great equality on all the strings, is powerful and clear, the oil varnish, very transparent, is a golden red colour for his own instruments, a lighter colour for those made in his shop. He first exhibited at Paris, 1889, and gained a silver medal; was awarded the "Grand Prix" at the Lyons Exhibition in 1894; was appointed "Luthier du conservatoire national, de l'orchestre et des théâtres municipaux."
12Bocquay. See "Boquay."
13Bodio, Giambattista A maker in Venice about 1792 to 1832. The few instruments known show nicely finished
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