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W.E. Hill & Sons

W.E. Hill & Sons was established by William Ebsworth Hill in 1880 and moved to New Bond Street in London’s West End in 1882. The bow making workshop was in Hanwell in West London and employed many of the great names of English bow making, including Samuel Allen, Bill Retford and Sidney Yeoman. Retford worked at Hills for 64 years, training more than one generation in the Hill bow making style, including Arthur Bultitude and Bill Watson. The Hill style, based on Tourte’s violin bows and Voirin’s cello bows, was rigorously enforced, and resulted in a very consistent output, yet with a broad range of styles, from engraved gold & tortoiseshell ‘Fleur-de-Lys’ to plain ebony frogs mounted in silver.

The Bond Street shop was closed in the 1970s and the business moved to Great Missenden, where it continued until 1992.

W.E. Hill & Sons

(fl London, 1880-1992)

W.E. Hill & Sons was established by William Ebsworth Hill in 1880 and moved to New Bond Street in London’s West End in 1882. The bow making workshop was in Hanwell in West London and employed many of the great names of English bow making, including Samuel Allen, Bill Retford and Sidney Yeoman. Retford worked at Hills for 64 years, training more than one generation in the Hill bow making style, including Arthur Bultitude and Bill Watson. The Hill style, based on Tourte’s violin bows and Voirin’s cello bows, was rigorously enforced, and resulted in a very consistent output, yet... Read more

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