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 314
Scan 314
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
14 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1the button. His work as an amateur violin-maker is of great merit, and will bring him considerable fame by-and-by if he perseveres with it. He won the gold medal for an exhibit of violins at the Greenock Exhibition, 1893. Facsimile inscription (no label):—
3made by
4James L. Wilson
51899 80 19
7WILTON, JAMES, Whitby, contemporary. He worked for H. J. Walker, of Whitby, for some time, but he now makes and repairs on his own account. Good average work and tone.
9WISE, CHRISTOPHER, London: c. 1656. He was chiefly a maker of viols, and made but few violins.
11WITHERS, EDWARD, London: 1808–75. He was born in London, Dec. 23, 1808, and died there Dec. 19, 1875. He was the son of Edward and Mary Ann Withers. He was not trained in the usual way, but he bought the business of R. & W. Davis, 31 Coventry Street, Haymarket, in the year 1843, and thus started what proved to be a bright career in violin-making. He followed the Strad and Guarnerius models exclusively, and made a large number of instruments, some of which, in point of workmanship and tone, will compare favourably with the best work of our classical school. He is the maker of the famous Withers' Quartet—said to be the finest English quartet of instruments in existence, made previous to the year 1870.
13These instruments, from their importance, demand a brief notice. They were made between fifty and sixty years ago at the old premises, 31 Coventry Street. Somewhere near the period mentioned, the roof of the shop underwent repairs,
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