William Robert RAINEY

RAINEY, William Robert Born 1871 New Bedford, Massachusetts, d. after 1922 San Diego, California USA. Active in New Bedford from 1890. Moved to San Diego, California 1922. Worked for Maude Powell, maintaining her collection of instruments; also as curator of the Ralph Granger collection in San Diego. Prolific maker, generally on Stradivari models. Fine workmanship with dark brown varnish and local materials. Some cellos and bows also produced. Innovations, although ultimately unsuccessful, involved treated wood strips added within the front and a mechanism to adjust the height of the fingerboard and bridge.