Franz Winkler Violin Bow- Markneukirchen circa 1930-1940

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Franz Winkler (1878-1962) learned the craft of bow making in Markneukirchen from Franz Heinrich Winkler, his father (1849-1919). As early as 1896 he set up on his own there. He must have been a very talented, skilled young man at 18 years old to start his own shop. Wow! He later travelled to America, where he worked in Philadelphia and Chicago, gaining more experience and knowledge about business. In 1903 he returned to Europe and pushed himself to learn and work for two more years in Paris. He then spent the rest of his life in Markneukirchen. It was the contacts he made in the USA that gave him sales opportunities, even during horrific economic times in and around World War I and World War II. By comparing prices in older American instrument trade catalogues, you can see his bows were well respected here and brought good prices to him. What I have gleaned is that this guy was a Renaissance man, one who strived to do many things better than well. Franz not only was a bowmaker, he owned a few restaurants in Markneukirchen and he had a small farm outside the town.

From 1907 on his bows were made in the style of different French masters, even though his German Markneukirchen traits show through, especially in the frog. Our bow is pernambuco specie, sterling silver, round section, and is an excellent representation of his personal model; a strong masculine head with narrow chamfers that angle sharply to the middle of the head. The frog is all Markneukirchen in style; a strong look in a Parisian eye model and the “U” formed masculine throat with the ferrule slightly arched and rounded back to the bottom of the ferrule. The top of the silver ferrule sticks out slightly longer than the base of ferrule. The sterling silver liner is attached with two nickel silver screws. The capsule button is sterling silver with double collar cuts to finish off the stick. His wood choice is a wow, tight grain and beautiful color. The French influence also comes into play in how the stick is laid out. The increments in the wood are gradual and he keeps the stick thin, but the stick is so strong and firm. Can you tell I love the bow? The bow is all original except for the new sterling winding and thumb leather. I see French influence in the camber as well, starting early after the head like a Sartory bow. Winkler’s bows have a great reputation here in America and in Europe and I’m sure someone with fall in love with this stick.

Weight fully haired 59.9 grams