Bow & Bridge Violin and bow makers, as the old books printed them

Books › Violin tone and violin makers, 1916 › scan 185

Scan 185

Violin tone and violin makers, 1916

11 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026, twice; the two readings disagreed in places. Printed page 163. See the scan on archive.org.

1(no line here) one of two readings
2AND VIOLIN MAKERS one of two readings
4imitated. The tone of his copies is usually of excellent quality. Other members of the family were MARTIN, WILLIAM, and FRANCIS; all good workmen.
6FENT, FRANÇOIS.—Paris; circa 1760-91. Related to above family, and stated to have been uncle and instructor of the first Bernhard Fendt. In his labels he omits the "d" from his name. Said to have come from Innsbruck. His best work has never been surpassed and seldom equalled by any maker working in France. The violins are of Stradivari form, and the style is Italian throughout. Wood of handsome figure, and the finish irreproachable. Varnish, a beautiful red brown. The tone of very fine quality even in inferior examples. His instruments, unfortunately, were obviously made in different grades; and the commoner types, which frequently bear his name stamped in various places, are of relatively little importance and money value. Some of his varnish is much oxydised (almost black), and the wood of both backs and bellies worm eaten. His finest fiddles have sometimes passed as genuine Strads, and occasionally Lupot's labels have been inserted; but the work is less heavy and more graceful than that of Lupot. His ordinary label has an ornamental border, bears no date, and contains errors of spelling.
8FICHTL.—A number of German and Austrian makers of this name are mentioned. Two named MARTIN MATTHIAS worked in Vienna in the eighteenth century and followed the Stainer pattern.
10FICKER.—The name of fully a score of Markneukirchen and other German makers. JOHANN GOTTL0B, who died in 1832, is amongst the best known. Used a brand with his initials. Other Fickers followed the same practice.

The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.