John Alexander Mann

History

John Alexander Mann (1810-1889) was born in Forfar in 1810. In his youth, he displayed a particular talent for portrait painting, which led to him being sent to the art academy in Edinburgh. However, he found the studies unappealing and abandoned them, initially becoming a theater machinist. Around 1845, he established himself in Glasgow as a violin maker. Due to his exceptional aptitude for various artistic skills, he eventually achieved mastery in violin making, placing him among the best Scottish violin makers, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff. John Alexander Mann was active in Glasgow from 1845 as a maker, dealer, and repairer, as noted by John Dilworth. William Meredith Morris describes Mann as a remarkable and unique individual, particularly at ease with curious machines and mechanical intricacies. For many years, he served as the right-hand man to the conjurer J. H. Anderson, known as "The Wizard of the North." Morris also mentions his mystical proclivities and love of the occult.

Craft

• Model: John Alexander Mann imitated the Stradivari model.
• Varnish: He used a good, dark yellow oil varnish.
• Origin of Instruments: Many of his violins appear as if they were pre-worked in France. John Dilworth states that most instruments bearing his labels seem to have been imported from Thibouville-Lamy in France, sometimes showing slight modifications.
• Assistants & Travel: He employed an assistant named Lamy from Mirecourt and traveled to France annually for purchases.
• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Original Strad Copy / fait par John A. Mann 1865," "Fait par John A. Mann / Glasgow 1885," and "Rétabli Soigneusement / par J. A. Mann Glasw. 1877."
• Critique: William Meredith Morris found the instruments he saw attributed to Mann to be "beautifully made, but timid and tame," suggesting they lacked a distinctive character or "genius."

Influence

• Mentorship & Friendship: Lütgendorff notes that John Alexander Mann cultivated a warm friendship with J. B. Vuillaume during his annual trips to France. However, William Meredith Morris expresses regret that careful investigation led him to doubt the correctness of many tales concerning the intercourse between Mann and Vuillaume, preferring to disregard them.
• Workshop Collaborators: Several local makers, including Archibald Morrison, worked for him.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: John Alexander Mann occupied prominent premises at 21 Argyle Street around 1863, 15 Bath Street from 1873, 3 Sauchiehall Street from 1883, and finally 11 Miller Street in Glasgow.

Summary

John Alexander Mann (1810-1889) was a Scottish violin maker, dealer, and repairer who established his workshop in Glasgow around 1845. Initially trained in art and later working as a theater machinist, he developed a mastery in violin making, earning a reputation among the best Scottish makers. He was known for imitating the Stradivari model and using a good, dark yellow oil varnish. While he had an assistant from Mirecourt and traveled to France annually, many instruments bearing his labels were likely imported from Thibouville-Lamy. He operated from several prominent addresses in Glasgow throughout his career. Sources contain conflicting information regarding the extent of his friendship and interaction with J. B. Vuillaume.