Welcome to the other New World – but Don’t Expect a Warm One – Oil-Derived Hair and Bows The Quest for Artificial “Horse Hair” The first “new materials” product for bows I became aware of was artificial “horse hair.” Of course, the very thought is now ridiculous. Still, for some

Previously in our bow series . . . Having focused on Percival Wilfred Bryant and Lawrence Cocker in Part Five and a Half, I now bring you Part Six – an installment on how bow making developed in the Americas. As soon as you reach the third paragraph – if

Previously in our bow series . . . Having teased you with the next-to-unknown (certainly in the USA) names of Percival Wilfred Bryant and Lawrence Cocker in Part Five, I thought it would be appropriate to explain why they should be appreciated more than they currently are – and not

For openers, I have to state that I’m writing this from the south coast of the UK. The weather/climate will doubtless be different where you are, but it may well be that changes in it are occurring there too. More Than Quirky British Weather I am not sure when I

Previously in our bow series . . . This article follows on from Parts Three and Four about the evolution of English bow making – read those first, please! In Part Three, about the original company W. E. Hill & Sons (“Hills”)*, I mentioned an extraordinarily talented workman who moved

Previously in our bow series . . . In part 3, about the original company W. E. Hill & Sons (“Hills”)*, I mentioned an extraordinarily talented workman who moved into their new Hanwell (West London, UK) workshops in 1893 to help restart their bow making: William Charles Retford. Retford’s most

A Forward-Thinking Luthier Around one hundred and fifty years ago, a talented, highly respected, forward-thinking violin-maker and restorer decided to expand his business more thoroughly than anyone before or since. As a result, William Ebsworth Hill (1817 – 1895) established the only prominent purpose-built workshop/factory for violins, violin accessories, and

The French Take the Lead, Followed by the British By 1750, the French – having access to newly discovered South American woods – were pre-eminent in bow development thanks to the Tourte family, but the British weren’t far behind. The heavy timber being felled in Brazil and Guyana had a

Want to know more about the history of the cello bow? Look no further. This is the first in a series of articles about bow history by our new bow specialist, Andrew Bellis. Enjoy! – Dr. Brenda Neece, Curator Who invented the bow? I don’t want to start this series