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Although the identifiers of almost all the bowmakers that worked for the firm of W. E. Hill & Sons are known, it sometimes remains less clear who made a specific bow. In the case of this bow, stamped HILL, all indications are that the bow was made in 1939 by William G. Johnston (1860-1944).
Johnston initially worked for the piano makers, Broadwood, but joined Hill in 1894 where for 45 years he was a prominent bowmaker. In 1930 he became Hill's workshop manager and he retired in 1939 - which would make this bow one of the last he made.
This bow remains in superb condition after almost 80 years - still with all its original parts. It has all the excellent playing properties one expects in a Hill.
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The Stick :
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Octagonal, of good pernambuco
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Lapping :
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Silver wire lapping with black ostrich-shin leather thumbpad, all recent.
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Condition :
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Excellent. Newly rehaired
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Provenance :
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The property of Johan Grobbelaar
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