William Booth (1780-1853)

[Anselm Hauke]

ken,
do you know anything about William Booth (1780-1853)?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by Anselm Hauke

ken,
do you know anything about William Booth (1780-1853)?

Is this Bass labeled and dated? After referencing several books I own I find that there are several Booth's all in the 19th century beginning William I born the earliest (1779-1780?) but worked from about 1809/'10-1856/'58 at Leeds and his son William II who died in 1856 but worked for a time for another dealer from 1834-1838 and then returned to Leeds. There are also listings for a Charles, Joseph and W. Booth with no relations listed but all in the 19th century as well but mostly in the second half.

Gallery Strings has a Booth Bass on their 'site but is an older looking J.Hill style Bass in Gamba form. Your Bass with the Violin form, longer upper Bout, outside Rib linings and its more Italian looking form maybe be from a later date or even Wlm.II that the Gallery Bass which to me looks much older and completely different as well.

This is a beautiful Bass you've posted. Thank's for listing it here for all to see. Is this your personal Bass? Great find either way...

[Anselm Hauke]

Ken,
thank you for your answer.

My quick google-search only showed me "William Booth, founder of the salvation-army"...

The only info i got about the bass is what i have written here, and the pic.
it´s not mine. but it´s for sale.

the hint to gallerystrings was very helpful, thank you.their "past customers" page is very enlightening sometimes.

[davidseidel]

I have also only heard of Booth via Gallery Strings. Interestingly I have been told by English experts that it is not an English attribute to have outside linings of that kind and yet my bass (attributed to Furber) has similar look from the side although other differences obviously. Is this Booth positively identified by someone or by a label?

[Ken Smith]

Originally Posted by davidseidel

I have also only heard of Booth via Gallery Strings. Interestingly I have been told by English experts that it is not an English attribute to have outside linings of that kind and yet my bass (attributed to Furber) has similar look from the side although other differences obviously. Is this Booth positively identified by someone or by a label?

Well, let me butt in here on that subject. From what I have seen there are Basses from England as far back as the late 18th century with outer linings/moldings. These makers included Dodd, Lott, Fendt and even somewhat with the squared corners on some Forster Basses which also show up on Dodd, Lott and even your attr. Furber Bass.

I have seen a few Italian Basses with outer moldings and some older German Basses as well. The outer moldings however are on the good majority of the German and Germanic Czech Basses made over the last 100+ years. German Basses made before 1850 have them on less occasion but still show up.

I don't know if you can say it IS an English attribute to have outside linings but many makers built Basses with these moldings during their 'golden' Bass building period from the late 18th century and well into 19th century.

If the Bass is old and the outer linings are original, then do not rule out the Bass being English if it looks English. Some Basses have had outer linings put on at a later date in their life. I have seen both an old German and an old Italian Bass with outer linings that to my eye were not original to the Bass.

In closing for now, outer linings IS one of the Attributes found on 'some' older English Basses but not all of them and not exclusively used by any one maker than I know of.

Remember this please, the English were mainly the greatest copyists of their time in the Bass world as well as the other Strings. While the French were copyists as well, the Basses they made were usually typical French of that period while the English made it a point to copy the best Italian and even some German traits on the Basses. Stainer was their big influence before they switched to the Cremonas. Panormo did help set the pace but not all followed his lead. Many English makers stuck with the Germanic style and even a little French flavor popped up now and then.

I wonder, how many English Basses today are still running around with Italian names?

[Arnold Schnitzer]

Ken, weren't many of the workmen in the English shops German?

[Anselm Hauke]

Originally Posted by davidseidel

Is this Booth positively identified by someone or by a label?

sorry david,
as i wrote in post#3 i´ve got no further information.
i could ask the seller for label/stamp/expertise, if you would like.