Books › British violin-makers classical and modern; being a biographical and critical dictionary of British makers of the violin from the foundation of the classical school to the end of the nineteenth century, 1904 › scan 124
Scan 124
British violin-makers classical and modern; being a biographical and critical dictionary of British makers of the violin from the foundation of the classical school to the end of the nineteenth century, 1904
25 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1Zealand, Canada, and Australia by turns, and never seemed to settle down in one place or at one thing long. No label, but written in pencil across back:—
3DAVID COLVILLE,
41857
6COLVIN, GAVIN, Sunderland, contemporary. He was born in Lerwick, Shetland, in 1841. About fifteen years ago he was fortunate enough to have a genuine Stradivari violin brought to him for repairs, and all his instruments from that time on are copies of this violin. Previous to that he had made many instruments on an original model, with a rather pronounced arching. The workmanship is good, and the tone is moderately powerful and of a good quality. He uses both spirit and oil varnishes. Label, handwritten:—
8GAVIN COLVIN,
9MAKER,
10SUNDERLAND, A.D. 18—
12CONWAY, WILLIAM, London: 1745-50.
14COOPER, HUGH WILLIAM, Glasgow, contemporary. He was born Aug. 30, 1848, and is the son of William and Margaret Cooper. He manifested a great interest in the manufacture of musical instruments at an early age. At sixteen he made a small harmonium, and some years later he built a two manual pipe organ with pedals.
16His first violin was made seven years ago, and for the last five years he has been engaged professionally as a violin-maker.
18He has made, up to the present, fifty-four violins, on the models of the "Sainton," Strad, and Joseph (Del Gesù), from drawings published by Mr. William C. Honeyman.
20In some instruments the measurements of the "Sainton" copies are slightly modified, as will be seen from the following figures:—
22Length of body . . . . . . . . . . 14 1/8 inches.
23Width across upper bouts . . . . . . 6 2 1/2 "
24" " middle bouts . . . . . . . . . . 4 1 5/2 "
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