Books › The Violinist's Guide (1916), 1916 › scan 19
Scan 19
The Violinist's Guide (1916), 1916
33 lines. Read by computer on 3 September 2026. No printed page number was found. See the scan on archive.org.
1on clock cases should become interested in the careful wood working required for making instruments of the violin family.
3Just when Willard made his first bass is not known, but number 33, a 'Cello, was made in 1808, at Lancaster, Mass. This instrument was played in the Rockland Church by Josiah Holbrook. Number 59 was made in Lancaster in 1810. This must be considered rapid work on the part of their maker.
5These 'Cellos have the top and back of spruce; they have a good outline and are properly proportioned. The sound hole is not so crude in design or cutting as in the case of most of the American makers, and approaches more nearly to the work of the less artistic European makers. The well written label was as follows:
7Benj. W. Willard,
8Lancaster, Massachusetts.
9No. 59. 1810.
11The length of body in one instrument was 29 3/4 inches; the width of the upper bout 13 3/4 inches, and of the lower bout 17 inches. The model is rather flat.
13Probably the most representative of the early American makers was Deacon Abraham Prescott, who was born in Deerfield, New Hampshire, in 1789. In his early years he evinced a decided aptitude for both mechanics and music. It was in 1809 that he commenced the manufacture of 'Cellos without any other model than that of a violin that was in his possession. In 1833 he removed to Concord, N. H., where he continued this branch of his business up to 1845, but he began the manufacture of organs in 1836.
15A letter from Mrs. Caroline Farley, the widow of one of Mr. Prescott's assistants, bearing date of April, 1903, says that Deacon Prescott employed several men. "My husband, Nathan Farley, made what they called 'patent heads' of brass for the viols; did this work for several years for him. The names of the men were Andrew Dearborn and also his brother, David M. Dearborn, Charles Brown, John Pearson, Milton Lane, Isaac Morse, Milton Morse. Amos Sargeant also worked in his employ and for his sons for over forty years."
17Prescott made instruments in two sizes: the huge double basses which are still much in demand; and the single basses which are too large to be used as 'Cellos according to present day usage.
19In the double basses, of which he was the largest and best known early American maker, the top was generally made of pine and was rather thinly worked. The bass bar instead of running parallel with the lower string, was set more obliquely, the upper end terminating near the center of the medial joint of the top. The lower corners were often rounded.
21The single basses were longer bodied than the 'Cello of today, often measuring 31 to 32 inches in length. The neck was short. Many had tops of pine. An instrument of this class may be described as follows:
23Length 30 1/2 inches, upper bout 14 inches wide. The instrument has a pleasing outline; it is well purified but the body is rather tubby in shape. The corners are long, and the sound holes are S shaped with wide upper and lower curve; the latter running out almost to the purfling. The head of the scroll must be characterized as long. All the old scrolls strongly resemble each other, showing that they were copied from one another rather than from European made instruments; although the earliest heads show their English derivation, the cutting at the side of the scroll beginning at the turn, rather abruptly and being deep. The varnish is of a yellowish brown color. This instrument had written inside on the back, in red chalk or crayon:
25Abraham Prescott,
26Deerfield, N. H.
28It is reported that Deacon Prescott, after completing a number of instruments, would strap them around the outside of his old style chaise and carry them through the neighboring country, disposing of them to churches as he found opportunity. It is likely that his office of deacon assisted him in making sales. Thomas Prescott, brother of Abraham, made a swell back double bass, but it had no corners.
30David M. and L. Dearborn of Concord, New Hampshire, were contemporaries with Deacon Prescott.
32A large printed label on ordinary yellow paper runs as follows:
The computer misreads some letters and numbers. Where a name matters to you, read the scan.