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Jean-Brieuc HERY
03-22-2007, 07:56 AM
Hi, my name is JB HERY, plays double bass and comes from France.

Thanks to Ken for this wonderfull forum!

I will send to the forum pictures of my two db's:
- a french "Charotte Millot",
- & an English Hawkes - Concert (currently in restoration).

I have a particular interest for the English db.

Best regards.

Ken Smith
03-22-2007, 09:36 AM
Hi, my name is JB HERY, plays double bass and comes from France.

Thanks to Ken for this wonderfull forum!

I will send to the forum pictures of my two db's:
- a french "Charotte Millot",
- & an English Hawkes - Concert (currently in restoration).

I have a particular interest for the English db.

Best regards.

Glad you like them. I was lucky to find a mate to my Gilkes with the Hart being his apprentice. It wasn't 'till the Gilkes restoration was done and the Hart was opened up when we discover the J.HART stamps and realized it was not a B.Fendt Sr. At first I thought I paid too much not being a Fendt but then learned it is at least valuable and much much more rare. In the mid 19th century, the Hills (W.E. Hill and sons) when to great lengths to dis-credit Hart as not being a maker at all to compete with him in the sales of old Italian Violins. Hart became the top dealer in London dwarfing the Hills so they had to compete by smearing his name. This bass is clear evidence of his early 'personal' work before he had a show with employees or his Son George to help him. Hart being no more than about 25 years old when this Bass was made if that.

The English school is the most interesting by far to study. Somewhere around 3,000 makers on record from about 1700 - 1900.