Fine French 3/4 Size Violin Bow Mirecourt circa 1910-1915

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For over 100 years J.T.L.- the Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy firm, was one of the largest sources of instruments and bows in Europe and was a leading name in the French violin making town of Mirecourt. It was founded in the mid-19th century when several successful workshops began formally collaborating. The firm’s success was based on three factors: high standards in their products, developing talented apprentices while collaborating, and marriage. In 1861 two well-established family businesses joined forces. Jérôme Thibouville partnered with Charles Buthod and Charles-Claude Husson, and shortly after Jérôme married Marguerite Hyacinthe Lamy in 1861 the firm changed its name to Jérôme Thibouville-Lamy ( J.T.L.). The company became the largest of the Mirecourt violin making workshops and at its peak it produced over 150,000 instruments and bows annually and employed 1,000 craftsmen. The J.T.L. firm employed many of the best bow makers of this time, such as Jean-Joseph Martin, Louis Gillet, Pierre Auguste Barbe, Charles Husson, Jean Maline, and Nicolas Thomassin.

This is a restoration of a Mirecourt violin bow I have had in my collection since 1979. I was seventeen years old and in high school. A few years back the Covid epidemic allowed me many hours to work alone, pulling and reviewing all my bows. I finally got to prioritize the collection of hundreds of sticks. As a young guy I lived and breathed baseball, umpiring, and all things related to violin. I was totally into instruments and bows, and with my dad I spent many weekends collecting and purchasing string instruments in the New York City/New Jersey area where I grew up. This bow has been sitting in a large box of old bows for almost 48 years. I’m restoring these old bows and enjoying bringing them back to life.

This is an excellent fractional 3/4 size bow I believe is a French J.T.L. violin bow. The stick is pernambuco, in round section, and completed by the maker in nickel silver fittings. It is in very good condition. It is a lightweight, strong but flexible stick made from choice pernambuco with a fine crafted head and is well-balanced. I have gone over the entire bow, giving it a new tip in tip armor, a new nickel silver wind, and a goat leather thumb grip. The frog is made differently than a commercial frog, it is dainty and all original. It has single pearl eyes and a slide that is flanged from the heel end to the ferrule. The heel is one-piece and the three-piece endscrew has a pin holding the first segment of silver together with a pin. The pernambuco wood of the stick is dense and straight, lovely wood in an orange/brown color. The stick is just oiled, not stained. The stick and the frog are well thought out. A player will notice the feel of the bow, especially in the frog and the strength of the pernambuco. The stick is easy to control, light and balanced. This will make a good violin sound great for an up-and-coming player.

Weight fully haired 44.6 grams