Dodd bow?

[Thomas H]

Hi,

New user to this site. 
 

I picked up this bow, with a violin at a recycling centre. 
a google search tells me it’s a Dodd bow from the early19th century. 
any comments would be welcome and appreciated. 
 

Thanks,

Tom

[Conor Russell]

Absolutely lovely. 

[Thomas H]

Thank you Conor. 
I’m not a violin player really, but have collected string and other instruments for years. I thought this was a good quality, old  bow, but not sure if the ivory frog belongs to the stick, as the stick isn’t stamped. 
I’ll wait for other comments before I decide what to do with it. 

[Conor Russell]

It reminds me very much of one of mine.

I wonder has the brand been scraped away. 

I think the mortice in the head shows the remains of a top hat, and the wide diagonal facets look right. 

I may be wrong,  but I like it.

[Dwight Brown]

It looks like it has possibilities. Needs to be seen by an expert. If you could tell us your general location somebody might give you a suggestion.

DLB

[Thomas H]

Thanks for the responses. 
 

Good call Dwight - I live near Manchester, in the UK. 

[nathan slobodkin]

And while you're at it, what recycling center do you go to? 

[Thomas H]

Hi Nathan,

The recycling centre is a secret!

I can tell you though, someone donated it to be recycled. I bought a violin, which is quite old but is lacking a label. The violin doesn’t appear to be anything special. The bow was in the case. I got lucky and bought this along with some other items, including a tea set!

[TRK]

I am googling as many “Recycling Centres” as we speak. 

[A432]

Does anybody recognise the wood ?

[jacobsaunders]

On 11/10/2025 at 3:38 PM, Thomas H said:

any comments would be welcome and appreciated. 

you might like to read the article on the subject I published in the on-line strad magazine 

 

[Thomas H]

Hi Jacob, 

Many thanks for the info. I’ll read it as soon as I get back home

[Conor Russell]

Thomas,

Is that the remains of a D (upright line), about a third of the way out the thumb extension?

It's hard to see on my telephone. 

[Thomas H]

Conor,

Thanks for your interest and helpful comments. Your earlier comment about the stamp possibly being worn away was spot on!

I’ve just had a look with my magnifier and there has been a stamped name there. The vertical line does appear to be part of a ‘D’ and there are traces of other letters, which could well be “ DODD”, but are so worn I wouldn’t bet money on it. 
Great spot!

Thank you

[Dwight Brown]

On 11/10/2025 at 2:31 PM, Thomas H said:

Thanks for the responses. 
 

Good call Dwight - I live near Manchester, in the UK. 

Sean Bishop in London or perhaps Tarisio.  There are certainly others.

DLB

[jacobsaunders]

On 11/10/2025 at 9:31 PM, Thomas H said:

Thanks for the responses. 
 

Good call Dwight - I live near Manchester, in the UK. 

The person to ask would be Tim Baker in Oxford

[Thomas H]

Many thanks to all who have responded to my post. They’re all much appreciated. 

I’ve read Jacob’s excellent article too and I’m fairly satisfied now that it’s a nice bow that needs to be looked at by an expert. A432 asked about the wood. I have no clue what it is. 
 

When I first brought this home, I was going to rehair it myself. I’ve attempted three before, one of which damaged the frog and another the tip plate. The third was a cello bow which turned out a bit scruffy, but functional. I’m glad I didn’t attempt this one. They were all inexpensive bows by the way, so no tears shed, just pride damaged!
 

Again, thanks to all for your helpful comments and advice

[A432]

• Repeating request for stick wood identification. Somebody here has to know.
• Stick length (or hair length) please. Looks oddly too long, even for English period bows (variable)

 

[Thomas H]

A432 - thanks for the question. The stick is 72cm including the adjuster and hair length is 68 cm. 

[uguntde]

What kind of wood is?

[Gtone]

On 11/11/2025 at 1:12 PM, A432 said:

Does anybody recognise the wood ?

 

4 hours ago, uguntde said:

What kind of wood is?

Can't say for sure but I have French bow that I posted awhile ago and under different light conditions

it reveals the pernambuco grain better but low light or artificial light it looks similar to OP's bow.

Would need to see it in sunlight....

This my bow in different light.

 

 

[Blank face]

Looks like pernambuco.