Non-Stamped Trade Cello Bow circa 1970

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We have a German trade bow with no known maker’s name on the bow, nor country of origin. Many bows from the turn of the century up to World War II and after came to market with no maker’s name or country of origin. The Germans wanted to conceal origin, originally to compete with countries that had better reputations and later due to the wars. This cello bow was probably placed with an instrument outfit back in the 70’s to make the outfit more saleable. These outfits were sold throughout Europe and the States. The craftsmanship is good, evident in the section of the bow, octagonal. I replaced the tip facial with casein material and removed the old winding and leather. The new winding is tinsel and has Chinese aqua/turquoise color silk for contrast and beauty. The bow is finished in nickel mounts, and the wood is pernambuco. The bow is strong; the correct luthier term is firm. The stick is no surprise, good bones, well made with a camber that begins gradually 4.0 cm behind the head and sweeps back well before the new winding.

This is another bow from my collection of sticks acquired with the help of my dad back in the late 1970’s. I was a young high school kid living in the Metro New York/ New Jersey area and totally into all things violin, umpiring, and playing baseball. For many years my dad took me to estate sales, private sales, and instrument auctions. This bow has been stored in a large cello bow box for over 40 years. I finally completed this bow tonight, finishing my writing while listening this evening May 15, 2026, to a Phillies/Pirates baseball game that was a come-from-behind win in the 10th. The Phillies came back to win 11-9. I’m a Mets fan, New York guy, but my team can’t get it together to play as a team. For me it is relaxing, I just love listening and picturing the game being played while I work.

Back to the trade bow, the stick is octagonal in section and has a dark red/brown color. The wood is oiled and colored to get that desired color. The stick does not give off much clarity; remember it is how the bow produces sound off your instrument. The wood is firm in its makeup and just another reason why I like this stick. The ebony frog is mounted in nickel silver, is Parisian eye model with mother-of-pearl eyes and a pearl slide of extra wild color. The slide jumps! The bow is completed with a three-piece nickel silver and ebony adjuster. It has some natural wear and patina, nothing unusual for its age. This is a good playing bow, ready for a player who wants to move over to a wood stick. This bow would also be a great playing stick for the college or high school program looking for a nice step up from a cheaper carbon fiber cello bow.

Weight fully haired 80.7 grams