Books › the history of the violin, 1864 › scan 291
Scan 291
the history of the violin, 1864
15 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. Printed page 269. See the scan on archive.org.
1for 1794 has "Robert Barnes, violin maker, Windmill Street, Haymarket"; therefore, as the firm is also mentioned in the same book as existing, perhaps 1794 was the year of separation. The following is a copy of the label used by them:—
3"Made by Norris and Barnes
4Violin Violincello and Bow Makers
5To Their Majesties
6Coventry Street. London."
8John Norris continued to carry on business at the usual residence; but statements differ regarding his retiring in favour of his shopman, Richard Davis. Some assert he died at Coventry Street, others say it was at a relative's house in Walham Green; but it is certain he is interred in the burial-ground of Fulham Church. The spot is marked by a stone, on which is engraved—
10"John Norris
11Died 10 March 1818,
12Aged 79 years."
14Richard Duke attained to great celebrity as a maker, and was quite the fashion at the period in which he lived; but there is no positive evidence of whom he learned the art of making violins, tenors, and violoncellos, all of which instruments have more of the Steiner pattern in them "than is consistent with a fine reedy tone," which in the violins is clear and silvery. The pattern rather long, and a yellow varnish. Some of the tenors are small in size, about the length of a violin, and the endeavour has been made to obtain a larger and deeper tone by making them very broad; the tone is good, but more power is wished for on the two lower strings. The varnish of some of these instruments is very poor; the colour seems to have been obtained by a weak solution of walnut-stain, and a thin coat of varnish
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