Mistery Bow

[Violinnut]

Hi all, 

I have received these pictures from a friend asking if I could make out the name on this bow. I could not, but maybe some of you might have already seen it. 

I would appreciate any hints.

I can make up a W H?  Leipzig  

 

[IBK]

Looks like Hammig

[martin swan]

Hammig was not a maker, so ultimately the stamp doesn't tell you very much ...

[Violinnut]

Someone suggest Friedrich Wunderlich ?

Could almost past if he wrote W. Fr but I am grasping for straws. 

[Jacobus Drainer]

Easy one.

https://www.jrjuddviolins.com/product/w-h-hammig-violin-bow-leipzig-markneukirchen-circa-1880-1905/

[Blank face]

Opposite of easy. There were several makers supplying the Hammig shop in Leipzig. From the bit what's visible the wide opened frog mouth could point towards an early one by Christian Süss, but this would need to be confirmed by more photos.

[martin swan]

1 hour ago, Ganymede Piggot said:

Easy one.

https://www.jrjuddviolins.com/product/w-h-hammig-violin-bow-leipzig-markneukirchen-circa-1880-1905/

did you read your own link?

[Violinnut]

Now that that name came out, I do think I can read W H Hammig, I am trying to get more photos. This detective work makes it fun  

[Jacobus Drainer]

18 minutes ago, martin swan said:

did you read your own link?

Of course I did.  Did you read the original post?  What is he asking?

[martin swan]

Well, most people assume that the stamp on the bow indicates the maker of the bow, and I slightly second guessed the OP and reckoned that they in fact wanted to know who made the bow and what its value might be. In which case the Hammig stamp is only marginally helpful, since Hammig's bows were supplied by quite a range of makers, some of whom have virtually no reputation, some of whom are important makers in their own right (Suess for example).

But maybe this is of no interest to the Violinnut or the owner of the bow ...

 

[Violinnut]

6 hours ago, martin swan said:

Well, most people assume that the stamp on the bow indicates the maker of the bow, and I slightly second guessed the OP and reckoned that they in fact wanted to know who made the bow and what its value might be. In which case the Hammig stamp is only marginally helpful, since Hammig's bows were supplied by quite a range of makers, some of whom have virtually no reputation, some of whom are important makers in their own right (Suess for example).

But maybe this is of no interest to the Violinnut or the owner of the bow ...

 

Actually, you are right, although it is interesting to read what the marking is, it is better to know who actually made it. So yes it is of interest.

Violinnut aka Claude

[Violinnut]

On 7/3/2025 at 5:13 PM, Blank face said:

Opposite of easy. There were several makers supplying the Hammig shop in Leipzig. From the bit what's visible the wide opened frog mouth could point towards an early one by Christian Süss, but this would need to be confirmed by more photos.

Finlly got some pictures…

[Blank face]

Looks like a Suess, except the adjuster button. Is the heel plate at the rear concave?

[Violinnut]

1 hour ago, Blank face said:

Looks like a Suess, except the adjuster button. Is the heel plate at the rear concave?

It kind of becomes rounder towards the but end. 

[Richf]

Just to complete the list of suppliers.....   According to the Grunke et al. book "German Bow Makers," in addition to the Christian Suss and Albert Nurnberger bows, Suss'es grandson Albin Nurnberger-Suss and both Herbert and Alfred Leicht supplied Hammig as well.  Photos of bows with the WH Hammig Leipzig stamp from different makers appear in the Grunke book, in the Babbitt and Chin book "The German Bow." and in the VDG book "Bogenmacherfamilie Albert Nurnberger.  I suspect the Babbitt book on Markneukirchen makers could have photos, too.  

[Blank face]

3 hours ago, Violinnut said:

It kind of becomes rounder towards the but end. 

I meant the metal heel at the back side of the frog. Concave = slightly rounded sides similat to Vuillaume frogs. That's a feature of some Suess frogs.

 

1 hour ago, Richf said:

Just to complete the list of suppliers.....   According to the Grunke et al. book "German Bow Makers," in addition to the Christian Suss and Albert Nurnberger bows, Suss'es grandson Albin Nurnberger-Suss and both Herbert and Alfred Leicht supplied Hammig as well.  Photos of bows with the WH Hammig Leipzig stamp from different makers appear in the Grunke book, in the Babbitt and Chin book "The German Bow." and in the VDG book "Bogenmacherfamilie Albert Nurnberger.  I suspect the Babbitt book on Markneukirchen makers could have photos, too.  

Yes, there are a lot of possibilities with that brand. The adjuster button looks more similar to Nürnberger, maybe even the head could be an early model by that family. I heard that it was also common that the makers were asked to avoid too strong personal features by the dealers, what makes it more difficult.