Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

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Scan 73

An encyclopedia of the violin, 1925

29 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 49. See the scan on archive.org.

1CHAPTER III
3VIOLIN MAKERS IN AMERICA
5The remarks prefatory to the list of European violin makers apply equally well to the following list of American makers.
7Information of an encyclopedic nature regarding those who have devoted themselves to this line of work in the United States has been available in only a few instances, and for this reason the list which follows does not lay claim to being complete. In endeavoring to get information regarding their life work from a number of contemporary American violin makers, the editor has had brought home to him forcibly the saying that "art is modest"—it is almost difficult to believe that several refused information regarding their work even for encyclopedic purposes.
9The list of American makers is illustrated by reproductions of the labels and instruments of a number of representative makers. Wherever this has been the case, the plate numbers are referred to in the articles.
11ADKINS, W. H., Minneapolis, Minn.
12ALBERT, CHARLES F., Philadelphia, Pa.
13ALBERT, JOHN, Philadelphia, Pa. Born at Freiburg, Germany. Came to the United States in 1854. Maker of the violin well-known as the "John Albert" and one of America's best-known artisans.
14ALDRED, JOHN, Buffalo, N. Y.
15ASCHOW, J. N., Oakland, Cal.
16BADGETT, MAYS, Atlanta, Ga.
17BALDWIN, WM. M., Racine, Wis.
18BEEBE, BYRON E., Muskegon, Mich.
19BENJAMIN, S. B., Bloomington, Ill.
20BENTIN, HENRY, New Orleans, La. Was Born at Nakel in Posen, Germany, and learned the art of violin making from his father who came to the United States and settled first in Iowa and later in New Orleans. In 1921, Jan Kubelik became greatly interested in Bentin's reproductions of famous old violins and since that time other great artists have found much to commend in them. The varnish used on his instruments resembles greatly that employed by the Cremonese makers. The label used in Bentin's instruments is reproduced on Plate 22 and one of his violins on Plate 25.
21BLASIER, H. E., Williamsburg, Ia.
22BOHMANN, JOSEPH, Chicago, Ill.
23BREDALL, J. B., Chicago, Ill.
24BRETCH, BRAYTON S., Oswego, N. Y.
25BRONSON, WILLIAM S., Grand Rapids, Mich.
26CARLISLE, JOSEPH R., Cincinnati, Ohio. Was born in Ashland, Kentucky, April 8, 1886, and, having shown in early life a great interest in the art of violin making, received considerable encouragement and knowledge from a violin-making amateur who resided in Ashland. He spent the years 1909 to 1914 in scientific research, as well as experiments in varnishes and colors, supplementing this work with practical experience in the employ of a violin maker in Charleston, W. Va. He later became associated with the house of Wurlitzer in Cincinnati and has been highly successful in his imitations of the old masters' instruments, and is now working upon a model entirely his own. The label used in his violins is reproduced on Plate 22 and one of his instruments on Plate 23.
27CLARK, OSCAR L., Northampton, Mass.
28COLLINGWOOD, JOSEPH, Ottumwa, Iowa. Was born April 17, 1853, and became interested in the art of violin making through learning to play on the instru-

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