A Fine Albin Hums Violin Bow – Markneukirchen circa 1920-1930 – CURRENTLY OUT ON TRIAL –

click picture to enlarge

Stamped:

Albin Hums (1882-1959) was a son of Markneukirchen violin maker Ernst Henrich Hums. He did his apprenticeship as a bow maker with Ernst Knorr in Markneukirchen. After he completed his training, he worked for Hermann Prell until he set up his own shop in Markneukirchen in 1904. There are references for him in a number of address directories where he is listed as a bow maker, instrument dealer, and supplier of pernambuco wood. In 1927, Albin received a silver medal and the state prize recognition for his bow making during a trade exhibition in Frankfurt. In a 1915 bow catalog Hums offered bows for sale in the style of various French, English, and German master bow makers.

Everything on this bow is original except the new silver winding and leather thumb grip. The head of the bow has a strong upright look, almost as if it stands up. The profile of the head is lightly convex and is similar in style to a Tourte model bow. The facial plate strongly curves up to the nose and his chamfers of the head, wide and pronounced, are also indicative of his work. The stick is orange/brown pernambuco, dense and strong in round section. This is old growth pernambuco which is better than nice. The stick is a gem and is firm in its response off the strings and subtle enough to handle articulations of all kinds. The frog is a classic, made following a Markneukirchen basic pattern of the early 1900’s. The frog has single mother-of-pearl eyes, and the slide is incredibly striking. The heel is a single piece of silver and is held to the frog with fine pin work. The bow is finished with a one-piece capsule button with two turns in the collar. This type of button and the one-piece heel are also typical of Hums work. The bow is excellent and will not be in the shop for long. A fantastic playing bow ready for the next professional.

Weight fully haired 60.0 grams