Books › 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, 1937 › scan 288
Scan 288
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, 1937
31 lines. Read by computer on 19 September 2026. Printed page 262. See the scan on archive.org.
1IV. A. Violin and Bow Makers—Period about 1845-1935 (Continued)
3Addresses from Boston Business Directories
5Names of Firms and Information About the Firms
71928—[address hidden]
81930—[address hidden]
91932—[address hidden]
101935—[address hidden] St.10
121902—[address hidden]
131916—[address hidden], Portland, Ore.
15RAOUL RETTBERG 15
16Mr. Rettberg is an expert bow maker of many years' standing, and a maker and repairer of violins.
17He also knows the ancient stringed instruments as he has made at least one viole d'amour.
19ROBERT ROBINSON
20In Boston 1899-1901 alone.
21In 1902 he formed the firm Robinson & Schultz. He settled later in Portland, Oregon, where he has his own business.
22Born in Sandusky, Ohio, Sept. 12, 1851. Worked in Des Moines, Iowa, 1871-77, Denver, Colo., 1882-84, Des Moines, 1885-91, Salt Lake City, Utah, 1891-92, Chicago, 1893-94, San Francisco, 1897-98. Violin making was a side issue until he came to Boston in 1899. He made violins after Stradivarius and Guarnerius and had his own model which was between the two, using a spirit varnish which he put up himself. Robinson & Schultz were importers, jobbers, makers and repairers of violins, violas, cellos and bows, voiced and adjusted new and old instruments and had strings and fittings. He is also a bow maker. In Portland he is a repairer and dealer and makes only to order.17
24D (AVID) B (AILEY) ROCKWELL
25Boston about 1878-1895. Moved to Philadelphia.
26Came from Maine. A real artist maker of violins, and bows, and a fine repairer.18 "He followed old Italian models, using his own varnish."17 He advertised "We give special attention to fitting up Small Violins for the young class. Bows repaired and straightened. Fine Old and New Violins, Cases and Bows on hand. We make a specialty of Fine Italian Strings, Violin Wood and Trimmings. We furnish teachers on the Violin, Bass and 'Cello."19
28THOMPSON & ODELL
291874 to about 1905; 1874 Woods, Odell & Thompson; 1875 on, Thompson & Odell.
30Had a retail store, were stringed instrument importers, putting on their name, and repairers. Calvin Baker in charge of their repair department, made good violins, violas, violoncellos and double basses for them and for himself up to about 1915. L. O. Grover also worked in their repair department. For information about their fretted instrument making see The Vega Co. P. 229 and P. 268, for their brass instrument manufacturing P. 229 and for their publishing P. 22.
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