W.E. Hill & Sons

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

W.E. Hill & Sons (1880-1992) was a London-based firm, specializing in string instruments and bows. Also known as William Hill & Sons or William E. Hill & Sons.

Many fine craftsmen have worked for the firm, Hills were very famous of their bow makers. Also violins, cellos and cases were praised. Other famous products included varnish cleaner and violin e-string as well as books about violin making families.

Many of today's extant stringed instruments and bows at one time or another passed through the hands of Hill & Sons, the Alard Stradivarius, the Messiah Stradivarius and the Lipinski Stradivarius.

[edit] Hill & Sons apprentices

Sam Allen (b.1838-d.?) - no marking
Leslie Bailey (b.1919) - marked 4
Arthur John Barnes (b.1888-d.1945) - marked 5
Edgar Bishop (b.1904-d.1943) - marked 2
Arthur Brown (b.? -d.?) - marked 10 or X
Arthur Bultitude (b.1908-d.1990) - marked 6
Arthur Copley (b 1903-d 1976) - marked 1
William Grieve Johnston (b.1860-d.1944) - his bows before 1904 were marked with downward nicks in the head mortice, after 1904 the nicks became horizontal.
Albert Leeson (b.1904-d.1946) - marked 3
Charles Leggatt (b.1880-d.1917) - marked with two nicks in the centre of the mortice
Frank Napier (b.1884-d.?) - marked with a pattern of three leaves
William Napier (b.1848-d.1932) - no marking
Colin G Nicholls
William Charles Retford (b.1875-d.1970) - marked with single dot
William Richard Retford (b.1899-d.1960) - marked with two dots
Arthur Scarbrow (b.?-d.?) - marked 0
Malcolm M Taylor (b.1933-d.?) - marked 8
James Tubbs (b.1835-d.1921) - no marking (sometimes double stamped)
William Watson (b.1930) - marked 7
Sydney Yeoman (b.1876-d.1948) - marked with a single nick in the lower mortise

[edit] Bibliograpy

Hill, W.H.; Hill, A.F.; Hill, A.E. (1909). Antonio Stradivari: His Life and Work, 1644-1737. London: W.E. Hill & Sons. OCLC 47174898.
Hill, William Henry (1932). The Violin Makers of the Guarneri Family: Their Life and Work. London: W.E. Hill & Sons. OCLC 23741230.
W.E. Hill & Sons (1976). The Tuscan and the Messie. London: W.E. Hill & Sons. OCLC 3225254.