German TOURTE Brand Trade Violin Bow- Markneukirchen circa 1910-1925

click picture to enlarge

Stamped:

This is an interesting violin bow, perfect for the player looking for something different with no real maker name stamped. Tourte was a famous Parisian maker and violin shop owner of the 19th century. This bow was made in a workshop in or around the town of Markneukirchen, Germany. Historically, Markneukirchen was the German hub of the string trade for centuries. Because of the tremendous growth in violin making during the 1800’s the bow trade followed and became just as well known. In this period many bow making families flourished, employing dozens of craftsmen to meet the need for bows. This is one of those bows from a family shop, but from the early 20th century. This is another bow from my collection of over 40 years, living and growing up in the New York/New Jesey Metropolitan area. As a teenager my father would take me to many estate sales and auctions. We would purchase dozens of old violins/violas/cellos and their bows. Sometimes bunches of old bows all tied up for sale. I’m averaging one or two bows per week getting restored. I enjoy the detail of bow work and have about 400 pernambuco bows yet to complete.

This bow is old pernambuco wood, firm in makeup, and shows no flaws. The pernambuco is an amber/orange/brown color. The stick is octagonal in section and yes, has a firm feel, a fight to the stick. The frog has fine pin work in the metal lining of the frog in brass and the heel of the frog is a one-piece heel that has one brass pin also. Very different. Maybe this is all the maker had at the time and did not wait to make new silver pins. Different. Neat in my mind. The end button is three-piece: silver/ebony/silver and has a double turn in the collar. The tip, frog, and end screw with button are original. I replaced one new mother-of-pearl eye on the player’s side and the mother-of-pearl slide. The single pearl eyes are set into the frog without a silver ring and measure 7.0 mm. in diameter. I also replaced the old winding with silver tinsel accented with teal silk. The original winding and leather were totally worn through, discolored, and held together with some kind of old gummy tape. A player from another half century ago loved playing on this stick and wore through the areas that are prone to wear (a good sign), but the stick and frog themselves are in great condition. The bow is balanced well, light in total weight, attractive, octagonal in section, and mounted in nickel silver. The leather thumb is black goat leather. A player looking for an older bow with great bones will fall in love with this German stick. Violinists are generally conservative in their gear. It’s ok, you will look cool playing with this jazzed up look sporting green silk accent for the winding. The bow is now in very good condition, and it plays well.

Weight fully haired 60.1 grams