H.C. Stumpel

History

H.C. Stumpel (1838-c.1900) was born in 1838 in Minden, Germany, and died around 1900. He was the son, pupil, and successor of C. H. Stümpel, taking over his father's workshop in 1861. According to John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, Stumpel was a conscientious maker who conducted extensive personal research. He was a prolific worker who, despite selling some instruments very cheaply, maintained a generally precise and professional standard of work. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zur Gegenwart, also notes his diligence and the varied pricing of his instruments, some of which are highly praised.

Craft

• Innovation: H.C. Stumpel developed a unique method for graduating the plates of his instruments, which he applied to various models and arching styles.
• Models: His models included high-arched 'Façon Bagatella', medium-arched 'Façon Joachim', and flat-arched 'Faust'. Lütgendorff further lists 'Guarnerius', 'Stradivariuss', and 'Sarasate' models.
• Materials: He initially showed a preference for balsam pine for instrument fronts, though Lütgendorff notes he quickly moved away from this material.
• Tools: He invented two types of calipers for violin makers to measure wood thickness, one of which allowed measurement even when the violin was not open.

Influence

• Mentorship: H.C. Stumpel was the pupil and successor of his father, C. H. Stümpel.

Further Information

• Labels: His labels often featured a diagram of his plate graduation method and cited various models, such as 'H. C. Stümpel M. i./ W. / 1893 / Façon Pablo de Sarasate', as noted by Lütgendorff. Some labels, at the request of customers, omitted his name.

Summary

H.C. Stumpel (1838-c.1900) was a German violin maker, son and successor to C.H. Stümpel. He was known for his conscientious work, personal research, and the development of a unique plate graduation method. He produced a prolific number of instruments in various models and arching styles, including 'Façon Bagatella', 'Façon Joachim', and 'Faust', and invented specialized calipers for measuring wood thickness.