40 makers. The earliest year printed is 1509, the latest 1924.
Every maker here has Chicago in a printed line, or sits under a Chicago heading or title in a directory.
- born 1848 Bohmann, Jos
Bohmann, Jos. * 1848. Chicago.
- born 1859 Van Dorston, A. W.
m.r.d. — Chicago, 2127 Van Buren St. American maker, repairer and dealer in old and new violins; born in Ohio, 1859. Has system by which 529 violins have been re-toned; also 16 violas, 9 cellos, etc. Copies of violins made to order.
- born 1867 Reitz, A. W.
m.r. 2121 Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill. Maker and repairer. Born in Germany, 1867. Copies Stradivari and Guarnerius in outlines and arching. Uses fine quality oil varnish. Connected with trade since 1895. St. Louis, Aurora, Chicago.
- 1875 Peterson, P. A.
Peterson, P. A., lebt seit ungefähr 1875 als Geigenmacher in Chicago.
- 1879 Cristofori, Francesco
Cristofori, Francesco. — Chicago. 1879. 1882.
- born 1883 Sindelair, Frank
m.r. — Chicago, 59 E. Adams St. Bohemian-American; born 1883; maker and repairer for twelve years. Copies Strad and Guarnerius models; own oil varnish; color yellow red.
- listed 1886 Heck, August
From the directory's title A.N. Marquis & Co.'s handy business directory of Chicago, 1886-7 : embracing a complete alphabetical and classified list of all firms and individuals engaged in business or professional pursuits, and much other useful information : contains all telephone numbers
- listed 1886 Lawinski, Lawinski S
From the directory's title A.N. Marquis & Co.'s handy business directory of Chicago, 1886-7 : embracing a complete alphabetical and classified list of all firms and individuals engaged in business or professional pursuits, and much other useful information : contains all telephone numbers
- listed 1886 Paulsen, Peter
From the directory's title A.N. Marquis & Co.'s handy business directory of Chicago, 1886-7 : embracing a complete alphabetical and classified list of all firms and individuals engaged in business or professional pursuits, and much other useful information : contains all telephone numbers
- born 1887 Becker, Carl
59 E. Adams Street, Chicago, in 1916.
- 1893 to 1896 Lane, W. T.
m.r. — Chicago, 329 S. Wabash Ave. English. Schooling in London. Experience in Toronto; Lyon & Healy 1893-96. Independent twelve years; in charge of violin department of Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Chicago. Follows long Strad model; uses own varnish formula.
- 1904 Einsele, Geo. N.
m. — Chicago, 225 S. Wabash Ave. American maker of German descent. Connected with William Lewis & Son, of Chicago since 1904. Average annual output 34 new instruments. Follows Guarnerius outline and own ideas regarding arching and varnish.
- 1908 to 1916 Pelz, Robert
Pelz, Robert, Steinway Hall, Chicago, Ill.
- 1912 Fassauer-Ferron, Gustav
Fassauer-Ferron, Gustav. — Chicago. 1912. 1914
- listed 1916 Armour & Co.
str. — Chicago, Union Stock Yards. Manufacturers of gut strings for violin, cello, etc. Have introduced latest machinery for scraping, spinning, polishing, and preparing gut strings for viola and cello. Conducting continuously exhaustive chemical and physical experiments for further perfection and evenness of gut strings. Also are establishing newest machinery for winding G strings for violin, cello, etc.
- 1916 to 1924 Becker, Carl
Becker, Carl m.r. 59 E. Adams St., Chicago
- listed 1916 Finney, Knute I.
inv. — Chicago, 3200 Logan Blvd. Norwegian birth. Inventor of patented finger guide for beginners.
- listed 1916 Geil & Schaefer
case mfg. — Chicago, 1757 N. Central Park Ave.
- listed 1916 Kretzschmar, H. A.
m.r. — Chicago, 21 E. Van Buren St. Maker and repairer. Born Weissenburg, near Nuremburg, Germany, 1876, of family of violin makers, father and grandfather having belonged to the trade. Served apprenticeship in Markneukirchen. His violins entered in contest of new violins held in Chicago 1912, received highest markings. Believes in principle of leaving sufficient wood in violin to ensure healthy tone at beginning and consistent improvement with age.
- 1916 to 1924 Lyon & Healy
imp.wh.d.r.mfg. — Chicago, Wabash and Jackson. Established Chicago 1864 by the late George W. Lyon and Patrick Joseph Healy. Business comprises buying, importing, manufacturing, wholesaling and retailing musical goods and merchandise. Activity in music embraces everything known in music. Manufacturers of pianos, harps, band instruments, and makers of the Lyon & Healy violin. Their old violin department was formed in 1888, and through their hands have passed many of the world's famous violins. In 1902 the celebrated Hawley collection of violins, the most important ever assembled, was acquired. An extensive violin repair department well equipped with skilful and experienced workmen is maintained.
- listed 1916 Manuflex Co.
inv. — Chicago, 20 E. Jackson. Manufacturer of Manuflex, an apparatus for exercising and strengthening fingers. Invented by Rex Underwood.
- listed 1916 Mills Novelty Co.
mfg. — Chicago, Jackson and Green Sts.
- listed 1916 Ostertag, Geo. A.
m.r. — Chicago, 301 Morton Bldg. Maker and repairer; born Augsburg, Germany. Learned trade with X. Kerschensteiner. Came to United States 1898 and now employed by Pepin Perfect Tone Violin Company. Twenty-four years' experience in workshops of Germany, England, Scotland and United States.
- listed 1916 Pepin Perfect Tone Violin Co.
m.r. — Chicago, 301 Morton Bldg. Inventors of the Pepin bass bar, for violins, cellos, etc., for purpose of equalizing and regulating tone. Employs as maker of new violins and repairer G. A. Ostertag. See under latter. Also makers and repairers.
- listed 1916 Quadriga Mfg. Co.
mfg. — Chicago, 119 N. Canal St. Manufacturers and sole agents of the original Boothe no-slip violin shoulder pad. Leather covered.
- listed 1916 Voit, Anton
m. — Chicago, 1166 Diversey Parkway.
- listed 1924 Bohmann, Joseph
BOHMANN, JOSEPH, Chicago, Ill.
- listed 1924 Bredall, J. B.
BREDALL, J. B., Chicago, Ill.
- listed 1924 Chapin, Geo. L.
(deceased). Chicago, Ill. Wrote a scientific and practical treatise on violin-making, printed in the New York Musical Review, June 17, 1880.
- listed 1924 Coughlin, John E.
d.r. 64 E. Van Buren St., Chicago, Ill. Repairing, dealer in Italian Strings and violin accessories. Fine violins, cellos and bows. Bow repairing a specialty.
- listed 1924 Evans, W. G. W.
Evans, W. G. W. m. 915 W. 63rd St., Chicago, Ill.
- listed 1924 Krauss, F. W.
Krauss, F. W. m. 704 McClurg Bldg., Chicago, Ill.
- listed 1924 Kretschmar, H. H.
Kretschmar, H. H., Chicago, Ill.
- listed 1924 Schwenk, V. L.
m.r. 740 Belden Ave., Chicago, Ill. American. First product, 1916. Booklet, “Mysteries Exposed,” was result of eleven years experimenting. Outline in main Stradivarian. Arching according to texture of wood.
- listed 1924 Sears, Roebuck & Co.
m.o. Chicago, Ill.
Some names appear twice under different spellings. Each is one book's spelling.