is this english?..

[Ken Smith]

So, the bass sold for about $46,500. That is why I was curious what in the world your were doing with it asking these 'innocent-like' questions. Sneaky!!

Edward Withers (repair label mentioned) died in 1875. Many good makers worked there of the years. This bass is Classic English with Maggini/d'Salo f-holes. Basses like these were made by Lott, Kennedy, Hart, Hart/Valentine, BF Fendt and others pre-1850. After that, there were a few followers of this style as well.

Paying that price for this bass in as-is condition, Tony has an idea it is one of the great makers. Do not be surprised if you see him list a Thomas Kennedy for some 6-figure price before long. Remember those Gears! They are Bakers by the way. Real ones.

[Chris Shaw]

They aren't Baker machines Ken. If you look more closely you'll see that the front support for the turning key isn't separate. It's part of the brass backing plate. Baker didn't do this - but Lottt Senior did. As I'm sure you know, Lott sometimes made his own machines and this is one of the features that he sometimes used. Hence my guess at it being a Lott senior.

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

They aren't Baker machines Ken. If you look more closely you'll see that the front support for the turning key isn't separate. It's part of the brass backing plate. Baker didn't do this - but Lottt Senior did. As I'm sure you know, Lott sometimes made his own machines and this is one of the features that he sometimes used. Hence my guess at it being a Lott senior.

Ok, your a Brit, I'm a Yank.. I yield to the man in the Red Coat..

[Jim Mortimore]

but... if you look here the machines on this look remarkably like the bass in question...

http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/sale_t...ouble_bass.asp

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Jim Mortimore

but... if you look here the machines on this look remarkably like the bass in question...

http://www.thomasmartin.co.uk/sale_t...ouble_bass.asp

Yes, my attribution is to Kennedy and not Lott as I said and felt earlier. The Scroll and FFs point me there.

Do not be surprised if you see him list a Thomas Kennedy for some 6-figure price before long.

The body shape could be one of 6 different makers. The Gears, IF Original almost 'never' ID a bass with certainty. They are just parts added after the bass is made. Baker was not the old Gear maker in the 19th century. There were others. I don't think Lott made his own gears either. Maybe just made by a shop other than Baker that was less commonly seen.

[Chris Shaw]

As you say Ken, machines change. Especially when basses change from three to four strings as all of these early nineteenth century English basses have done. The idea of Lott making his own machines comes, amongst others, from Tom Martin. As he's probably seen and played more top quality basses than anyone else on the planet, I tend to go with him!

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Chris Shaw

As you say Ken, machines change. Especially when basses change from three to four strings as all of these early nineteenth century English basses have done. The idea of Lott making his own machines comes, amongst others, from Tom Martin. As he's probably seen and played more top quality basses than anyone else on the planet, I tend to go with him!

Lott 'making' his own machines and 'having them made' as in subcontracting are two different things. Regardless of all he (Tom Martin) has played, I have my own beliefs and ideas. No one I know is with out fault or mistake in the old bass ID game, no one!

Study if you can the Life of the 'English Born' John Lott (b.1775-76 and christened in 1776 in London, a year after his parents were married in that same church) and see what you come up with on where and who he worked for. The ability to make Gears is not something you do in a wood-type shop. You just don't go make a set here and there!

His father was John Lott as well, NOT a violin maker and MAY have been from Germany so the whole Lott is German thing is totally false unless we are talking blood line! This was discovered on or about 1998 and printed in the book 'The British Violin' from the convention of that year.

[Anselm Hauke]

the bass looks like a kennedy to me.