Violin bow end screw ID please

[MLS]

Hello everyone!

I'm new to this site and loving all the fantastic information here. I wonder if anyone might be able to help, please?

I have a bow with what I think is an unusual end screw (if that's the correct terminology!)

 Any ideas greatly appreciated as I haven't been able to find a similar looking one online. Thank you very much.

[GeorgeH]

It looks like a button that lost an end cap.

[MLS]

Thank you very much. I always thought the plain metal ones were a complete unit. 

 

Edited November 2 by MLS

[Dwight Brown]

Either it’s something I’ve never seen before, which is entirely possible, or it is missing the silver disk that closes off the end of the adjuster. I think from the looks of it it is the latter. It looks as if the solder joint has failed. 
 

DLB

[Brad Dorsey]

2 hours ago, MLS said:

…an unusual end screw (if that's the correct terminology!)…

The correct term is “button” or “adjuster.”  The “screw” is the threaded metal rod.

I don’t think the end fell off.  I think that the intent was for the decorative turning at the end of the ebony button core to be visible.  If the button had originally had a metal end that fell off, the end of the octagonal metal tubular sheath wouldn't be rounded off.  The rounding-off would have been on the end that fell off, and the edges at the end of the sheath would be square.

I don’t recall seeing a button like this before.

[GeorgeH]

2 hours ago, Brad Dorsey said:

If the button had originally had a metal end that fell off, the end of the octagonal metal tubular sheath wouldn't be rounded off. 

Couldn't it have been a pearl cap?

[fiddlecollector]

Its a WE Hill & sons  button

[MLS]

Thank you all for so much of your time. I perhaps should've said it's an unstamped Hill bow but as I wasn't able to find any information on such fittings, started to doubt whether it was even original. It's interesting to know and it's always nice to learn something new so thank you fiddlecollector for this info.

May I ask why you think the bow isn't stamped? I'm guessing it didn't meet the standard although it looks and plays great to me. It doesn't have the date on it either, only the 'C'. It's all so complex!!

 

[nathan slobodkin]

18 hours ago, fiddlecollector said:

Its a WE Hill & sons  button

Really? More info please.

 

18 hours ago, MLS said:

Thank you all for so much of your time. I perhaps should've said it's an unstamped Hill bow but as I wasn't able to find any information on such fittings, started to doubt whether it was even original. It's interesting to know and it's always nice to learn something new so thank you fiddlecollector for this info.

May I ask why you think the bow isn't stamped? I'm guessing it didn't meet the standard although it looks and plays great to me. It doesn't have the date on it either, only the 'C'. It's all so complex!!

 

can we see pixtures of the bow itself?

[fiddlecollector]

From what ive heard they are usually from the period between WWI and WWII when times were a little harder economically, particularly 1920's and on half mounted bows .

According to John Stagg i think the no.4 was discontinued in around 1945-46.

Excerpt from his book. First one on the list.

[Wood Butcher]

I have seen these types of adjusters on Hill bows, though not frequently.

[MLS]

Thank you fiddlecollector  for such great information. It's all very very interesting. I have exactly the No 4 and am very pleased to learn that the bow is all original albeit unstamped...ah well. 

[MLS]

I shall now be looking amongst my orchestral colleagues to try to spot another!

[GeorgeH]

It looks much nicer in those pictures! I have never seen that before, thanks for posting.

[match]

Thank you for the interesting information and the opening of the thread. Does this mean that for classifying bows with 'simpler' stamps (H.&S., HILL), the quality grading from the Hill workshop is reflected (1) in the craftsmanship of the frog and adjuster of the models (No 4-1), (2) it is recognizable by the stamp, or (3) each level of craftsmanship always has the corresponding stamp?

[MLS]

I have another bow that may be of historical interest to some. It's a silver mounted decorated James Tubbs, sadly damaged, engraved with a date of 26th February 1885. Happy to share photos if it is of interest to anyone. Or maybe worth starting a new topic?

[MLS]

I'm sorry I don't have an answer for you @match