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Scan 223
Old Violins And Their Makers, 1883
4 lines. Read by computer on 1 October 2026. Printed page 209. See the scan on archive.org.
1said, in 1820, from which it would seem that he attained to a good old age. Two other sons, James and Henry, were in business together in Salisbury, James working at violins and Henry at piano tuning. This firm also varies its marks. The business in Salisbury was sold, and the brothers removed to Liverpool, and occupied a shop in Church-street, where Compton House now stands. Thence they went to Bold-street, and died some time after. They were buried at St. Mary's, Edgehill. It is not believed that they made any violins in Liverpool, although the person to whom they sold their business there found a number of instruments, in the white wood, lying in a cellar under the shop, and sold them in that state to various persons. They have probably, long ere this, been duly labelled "Benjamin Banks." The varnish of the first Banks looks very like Italian. The Liverpool firm dates about 1805. A few years later than the first Banks, a maker in London, named Daniel Parker, also made violins of the Amati pattern, and shares with him the credit of having first interfered with the marked predilection for Stainer which then prevailed. His date is from about 1740 to 1785—Pearce says 1714, but this is doubtful. The tone of his instruments is clear and powerful, and they are well made. The varnish is a dull red. His instruments appear to have been chiefly made for music shops, and to have been sold under other names.
3A maker of this period was E. Airton or Aireton, who made violins and violoncellos, principally of the Amati type. They have a yellow varnish, are considered good, and are of neat workmanship, but it is also supposed
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