Michael H. Lindsay

History

Michael H. Lindsay (1837-1906) was born in Ireland on April 12, 1837, and later moved to England at the age of 14, where he learned to play the violin and violoncello, also receiving training as a double-bass player. According to William Meredith Morris, he had been a professional violin-maker for nearly forty years by the time Morris wrote his account. John Dilworth notes that Lindsay was active from approximately 1860 in Stockton-on-Tees. Around two years prior to Morris's writing, Mr. Lindsay suffered a paralytic seizure, which rendered him unable to create new instruments, confining his work to repairs.

Craft

• Model: He primarily followed the Stradivarius model, incorporating his own original arching forms and applying his own calculations for thickness proportions.
• Materials & Workmanship: He utilized handsome wood and was noted for good work and materials. He made all parts of his instruments himself.
• Varnish: Lindsay placed particular emphasis on his varnish, which he had been developing since 1860. It was described as a fine, golden-yellow amber oil varnish, possessing an Italian appearance and commendable qualities. Messrs. Balfour, violin experts, stated that his varnish "should rank among the highest of the varnishes now in use, being Cremona-like in style."
• Output: He made a large number of instruments, including violins, violas, violoncellos, and double-basses. Sources contain conflicting information about the exact number of instruments produced: John Dilworth credits him with over 500 violins, cellos, and double basses, while Willibald Leo Lütgendorff states he made 420 violins, 10 violoncellos, and one contrabass.

Influence

• Training: Michael H. Lindsay was a self-taught violin maker, beginning in 1860 without a teacher or instruction, as noted by Willibald Leo Lütgendorff.
• Inspiration: His interest in violin making was significantly sparked when he acquired two violins by Vuillaume, which were copies of Stradivari and Guarneri instruments, prompting him to examine their internal construction.

Legacy

• Awards: He was awarded a medal for an exhibit of violins at the Liverpool Exhibition in 1886.
• Reputation: His instruments were highly regarded; M. Polonaski reported very favorably on their tonal qualities, and experts like Messrs. Balfour praised his varnish.

Further Information

• Workshop Location: He was active in Stockton-on-Tees, UK.
• Label: Instruments bear the inscription "Michael Lindsay M.L. / Maker / Stockton-on-Tees. 1895".

Summary

Michael H. Lindsay (1837-1906) was an Irish-born, self-taught violin maker who became active in Stockton-on-Tees around 1860. He crafted a variety of instruments, including violins, violas, violoncellos, and double-basses, primarily following the Stradivarius model. Lindsay was particularly noted for his distinctive golden-yellow amber oil varnish, which was highly praised by experts for its "Cremona-like" qualities. His instruments were well-regarded for their tonal qualities, earning him a medal at the Liverpool Exhibition in 1886. Towards the end of his career, a paralytic seizure limited his work to repairs.