Books › British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work, 1920 › scan 49
Scan 49
British Violin Makers: A Biographical Dictionary of British Makers of Stringed Instruments and Bows and a Critical Description of Their Work, 1920
6 lines. Read by computer on 29 August 2026. Printed page 31. See the scan on archive.org.
1of them used Clark's, or Whitelaw's, or some other reliable varnish that has been produced by the assiduous application of scientific knowledge and a long experience in the laboratory. My remarks do not apply to the best of our makers of course, who are presumed to know at least as much about chemistry as the old Italian violin makers did.
3A very beautiful varnish is produced by Mr. F. W. Channon, a clever and well-known professional violin maker, of London. Unlike the majority of professional makers, he does not attempt to make a mystery of its composition or of the method of its preparation; on the other hand, he readily reveals both. With his kind permission I am allowed to say here that he is prepared to furnish his formulae with full instructions to any bonâ fide violin maker.
5I cannot conclude my remarks on varnish without urging upon all violin makers the great importance of this branch of the subject. I reiterate the conviction that varnish has a very considerable effect upon the tone. I am not prepared to go so far as the Messrs. Hill, who say that of the factors that go to make a scientifically constructed fiddle which shall give the best possible tonal results, varnish is to be put down first in the order of importance. That, I think, puts the case too strongly. On the other hand I certainly cannot agree with a well-known writer who says that "Varnish has little or no effect upon tone." Only a man with no actual experience of violin making could write that. To cite the instances of old Italian violins which have been denuded of their varnish in
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