John SMITH

He was born at Fauldhouse, Linlithgowshire, April 26, 1859, and he works now at 40 Garthland Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow. He worked for ten years at 28 Cockburn Street, Falkirk, where he made about fifty violins and a few violas and violoncellos. He is a pupil of John Carr, music teacher and violin-maker, of Falkirk. Mr. Smith is amongst the three or four who form the vanguard of the army of modern Scottish makers. He works on various models, but chiefly on one of his own adoption, the measurements of which are as follows : — The arching is a trifle more pronounced than in the works of Strad and Joseph, and is almost in the manner of Gasparo da Salo. There is also a strong Brescian feeling about the sound-holes, only they are of a type distinctly more advanced than those of the old school. The angle of inclination of the sound-holes, and their quasi-Gothic upper arch, lend this part of the work freshness and vigour which catch the eye of the expert. The work is beautifully finished, and the varnish carefully laid on and highly polished. A feature worthy of special notice is the shoulder, or base of neck, which is finished in a manner that enables the player to shift with comfort and ease. Too much attention cannot be paid to violin construction from the player's point of view, with due regard, of course, to the harmony of form and proportion. Mr. Smith's scroll is a magnificent piece of carving, and reveals strength of mind and mastery of the gouge. The tone is large and incisive, and when time and use have mellowed it down, it will, no doubt, be rich and sonorous. The colour of the label paper is dark yellow.