Mistery Bow

The nearest I can come is that it is a German trade bow from a cottage industry town like Mittenwald ,made as piece work by a number of people. eg Hans made the stick and carved the octagonal for a No. 4 sized frog mass produced by someone else and haired by someone else again. Often bows like this were stamped with "Germany" underneath, between the frog and the screw and the III or IV were found underneath and covered by the lapping. My guess is it was made in the 1950's or early 1960's and originally had alternating black and white lapping. They cost about A$ 40 - 100 new when I was a student in the mid-sixties. The same source provided Brazilwood as well as Pernambuco sticks and and a range of frog mounts. The best were fully mounted silver frogs on very good nicely flamed Pernambuco sticks. Your bow looks like one of the best. The original lapping would cover the IV. The screw looks newer than I remember?

Regards

DP

 

I'm a French bow-ist (!!!) Lapping make sense then, because the index finger is on the stick ahead of the frog. My perspiration and abrasion would wear down the stick unless protected.

Your fingers on German bow - would they come forward past the end of the frog and need the lapping? If not, why worry if you are happy with weight and balance? Any lapping would be purely ornamenal. If you do decide to lap with silver wire it is such a light metal and so close to the frog that it shouldn't effect balance and weight too much.

Cheers......

DP