Frank Devoney

History

Frank Devoney (1854-after 1920) was born in 1854 in Perth, Scotland, United Kingdom, and passed away after 1920 in Cupertino, California, USA. According to William Meredith Morris, he was originally a tailor and was described as an ingenious man. He received guidance from several local makers, but developed a strong interest in the acoustical work of Savart and the principles of Ghladni-pattern plate tuning, as noted by John Dilworth. Devoney worked in Blackpool, Lancashire, before emigrating to America in 1910. Subsequently, he established workshops in various Californian cities, including Pittsburg, San Francisco, Fresno, and Cupertino.

Craft

• Models and Varnish: Frank Devoney was quite prolific, producing many instruments during his Blackpool period on various classical and slightly eccentric personal models. His American work, according to John Dilworth, was generally more convincing, utilizing Stradivari, Guarneri, and Brescian models. Willibald Leo Lütgendorff also notes that he imitated the models of Caspar da Salò, Stradivari, and Guarneri. All his instruments were similarly varnished with a golden-red oil varnish, or yellow or red oil varnish, as described by Lütgendorff. William Meredith Morris observed an instrument of his make covered with a reddish amber oil varnish of his own creation.
• Construction and Tone: Instruments from his Blackpool period were generally rather heavy in the wood. William Meredith Morris described an instrument he observed as not finely made, but strongly built, possessing a rough sort of character. The tone of this instrument was noted as large, but rather shrill.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Joseph Guarnerius / Copy / by Frank de Voney 1893" and "Antonio Stradivari / Copy / by Frank de Voney 1905".

Influence

• Mentorship and Interests: Frank Devoney received guidance from several local makers. He was particularly interested in the acoustical work of Savart and the principles of Ghladni-pattern plate tuning.

Further Information

• Publications: Frank Devoney published a book detailing his own findings titled The Acoustics of Violin-making in Edinburgh in 1893.
• Personal Details: According to William Meredith Morris, Devoney had lost one limb but wore another of his own manufacture, highlighting his ingenuity.

Summary

Frank Devoney (1854-after 1920) was a Scottish violin maker who worked in the United Kingdom before emigrating to California, USA, in 1910. Originally a tailor, he was known for his ingenuity and deep interest in acoustics, publishing The Acoustics of Violin-making in 1893. He produced instruments on both classical and personal models, often using a golden-red or reddish amber oil varnish. While some of his earlier work was noted for being heavy in the wood, his American instruments, often copies of Stradivari, Guarneri, and Brescian models, were considered more convincing. His instruments were described as strongly built with a large, though sometimes shrill, tone.