Robert Gregson

History

Robert Gregson (1871-Unknown) was born on June 3, 1871, at Whiteberk, near Blackburn, Lancashire, UK. According to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, he studied violin playing for eight years and learned wood carving, which led him to attempt violin making. He was briefly established in Montreal, Canada; Lütgendorff states this period was from 1894 to 1895, while John Dilworth indicates 1894 to 1896. By 1898, he had settled in his hometown of Blackburn as a violin repairer and commenced work as a professional maker. In 1898, he made his first viola. William Meredith Morris noted that his initial instruments showed indifferent workmanship and tone, but he improved rapidly.

Craft

• Workmanship: Robert Gregson's early instruments were described by William Meredith Morris as having "indifferent in workmanship and tone," with a "disregard for purity of outline and clean inlaying of the purfle." However, Morris also noted that Gregson "improved very rapidly" and that the tone of his later violins was "very good." Willibald Leo Lütgendorff emphasized that "Alles an seinen Geigen ist eigene Arbeit" (everything on his violins is his own work), and he employed no assistants.
• Models: He primarily made instruments "nach dem Stradivari- Modell" (after the Stradivari model), as stated by Lütgendorff, or "on Stradivari-derived models," according to John Dilworth. William Meredith Morris observed that Gregson did not copy anyone, attempting to "cut out a path for himself."
• Output: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that Gregson made his first viola in 1898, and since then he had made 48 new violins, while John Dilworth indicates he made "about 100 instruments."

Influence

• Training: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff notes that Robert Gregson studied violin playing for eight years and learned wood carving, which served as his foundation for violin making.
• Approach: William Meredith Morris commented that Gregson did not copy other makers, preferring to "cut out a path for himself," and suggested that he should have devoted years to copying old masters.

Legacy

• Reputation: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states that Robert Gregson "steht sowohl als Geigenmacher und Reparateur wie als Händler in gutem Ansehen" (stands in good repute as a violin maker, repairer, and dealer).
• Potential: William Meredith Morris, while critical of early work, believed Gregson "ought to reach a fair standard of excellence" with "severe application."

Further Information

• Locations: Robert Gregson was briefly established in Montreal, Canada, from 1894 to 1895 (Lütgendorff) or 1894 to 1896 (Dilworth). He later settled in Blackburn, UK, with his shop located on Bastwell Road, according to John Dilworth.
• Labels: John Dilworth provides an example of a label: "'Arte et Labore' / Robert Gregson / Blackburn / Anno 1913." William Meredith Morris also mentions a "Facsimile label" but does not provide its text.