Joseph Merlin

History

Joseph Merlin (1735-1803) was an inventor and entrepreneur, born in Huys, Liège, Belgium, and later died in London, UK. According to John Dilworth in The Brompton's Book of Violin & Bow Makers, Merlin worked in Paris around 1750 before moving to London in 1760. In London, he received a commission to build a barrel-organ for the Princess of Wales and collaborated with a goldsmith in New Street, Covent Garden, near John Marshall's workshop. While few conventional musical instruments bear his label, he was primarily engaged in the design and manufacture of complex automatons. Merlin's most famous exploit involved a demonstration of his roller-skates, during which he danced while playing the violin, unfortunately colliding with a large mirror in Carlisle House, Soho Square, destroying both the mirror and his violin.

Craft

• Models: Joseph Merlin followed the high Stainer model for his violins, as noted by Cecie Stainer in A Dictionary of Violin Makers and Willibald Leo Lütgendorff in Die Geigen- und Lautenmacher vom Mittelalter bis zum Gegenwart.
• Instruments: He produced violins and a five-string cello, which he described as a 'Pentachord,' made for Sir Edward Walpole.
• Workmanship: His rare known works show signs of having been supplied by various London craftsmen of the time, and are described as neatly worked by John Dilworth. Cecie Stainer and William Meredith Morris also state his instruments were well made.
• Varnish: The varnish on his instruments is described by John Dilworth as dull brown or red-brown spirit varnish. William Meredith Morris notes it as mostly dirty yellow or brown of an inferior quality.
• Tone Quality: Sources consistently describe the tone of his instruments as not good, leaving much to be desired, or poor, according to Cecie Stainer, Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, and William Meredith Morris.
• Pegs: Merlin invented and patented 'non-slip' pegs, which he added to at least one Stainer model violin dated 1776. His mechanical pegs for violins and violoncellos were at one time considered fashionable and in considerable use.
• Labels: Willibald Leo Lütgendorff mentions he mostly used oval labels.

Influence

• Collaborations: Joseph Merlin worked with a goldsmith in New Street, Covent Garden, and his instruments show signs of having been supplied by various London craftsmen of the time, as detailed by John Dilworth.

Further Information

• Workshop Locations: Joseph Merlin worked in London, specifically in Princes Street, Hanover Square, between 1770-1780, according to Cecie Stainer. John Dilworth mentions his proximity to John Marshall's workshop in New Street, Covent Garden.
• Labels: A cello was branded beneath the back button with 'I. Merlin / London'. Printed and amended labels include 'Josephus Merlin / Cremonae Emulus / No. 106 Londini 1778 / Improved / Queen Ann, No. 66, Street East / Portland Chapel'. Sources contain conflicting information regarding label numbers and dates; William Meredith Morris cites a label as 'JOSEPHUS MERLIN CREMONAE EMULUS. NO. 104. LONDINI, 1779. IMPROVED. 66 QUEEN ANN STREET EAST, PORTLAND CHAPEL'.

Summary

Joseph Merlin (1735-1803) was a Belgian-born inventor and entrepreneur who worked in Paris and London. Known for his automatons and inventions like roller-skates and 'non-slip' pegs, he also produced musical instruments, primarily violins and a five-string cello, following the Stainer model. While his instruments were generally well-made and neatly worked, often featuring dull brown or red-brown spirit varnish, their tone quality was consistently described as poor. He operated workshops in various London locations, including New Street, Covent Garden, and Princes Street, Hanover Square.