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Scan 207
Violin tone and violin makers, 1916
8 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 185. See the scan on archive.org.
1AND VIOLIN MAKERS
3HARBOUR, JACOB.—London; about 1760-90.
5HARDIE.—Edinburgh; eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Perhaps the best known family amongst the Scottish makers. The most celebrated member was MATTHEW, born Edinburgh in 1755, died 1826. His best work is very well finished. He copied the patterns of various Italian makers, but chiefly Stradivari and Amati. The tone of many of his violins is excellent. His varnish, according to examples seen by the writer, was not of the best. There were two James Hardies, of whom the second, born 1836, was the founder of the present Edinburgh firm of James Hardie and Son. He has produced an enormous number of instruments, many of which are somewhat on the lines of Maggini. Other makers of the name were PETER, who died at Dunkeld in 1863, and branded his work with his name; and THOMAS, a son of Matthew, who could turn out good work when he chose; he died in 1856.
7HARE, JOHN.—London; eighteenth century, first half. Unquestionably one of the best of the old English makers. He shares with a contemporary (Daniel Parker) the merit of having been the earliest of the English school to turn serious attention to the pattern of Stradivari. His instruments are of large proportions, flat arching, and good finish, the heads being the weakest feature of the design. He used an excellent red varnish of considerable brilliance, and it is to be regretted that his work is so scarce. The tone also is exceptionally good and resonant in a well-preserved example. Opinions seem still to be divided as to whether JOSEPH HARE, mentioned in most books on the violin, was or was not identical with John. The latter was for some time associated in business
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