F. C. Berry

BERRY, F. C. Born 1866 Noble County, Ohio USA. Active violin maker from 1876. Largely self-taught. Worked briefly with a luthier named Reed. Established in Urbana 1890-1926. Credited with 300 instruments generally on the 1716 Stradivari ‘Messie’ violin. Spent a great deal of time experimenting with varnish, the benefits of which are not obvious. Copy of the Messiah / Strad, 1716 / By F. C. Berry / 235 East Reynolds St. / Urbana, Ohio