John King Monk

He was born Jan. 22, 1846, and is a direct descendant of General Monk, of Commonwealth fame. He works on the Stradivari model, but he has slightly modified the outline, making the corners fuller and more prominent. The sound-holes are considerably modified, and although they have much force of character and a piquancy all their own, yet one is constrained to wish that the maker had rest content with his classical prototype. In the matter of workmanship, this maker is capable of doing better than he sometimes does. He has used sundry sorts of wood, all of good quality. He foraged Shoreditch cabinet-makers' stores some years ago for material, and stumbled across several slabs of maple and one of sycamore, which had lain by for generations till it had got very dark. Some portions of this were very handsome when cut up. The pine which he has used up to the present was taken from an old warehouse at the foot of London Bridge, built in 1830. This same warehouse was removed to another part in i860, and in 1886-87 was taken down, when Mr. Monk took advantage of the opportunity of securing the wood that suited his purpose. He has used all this pine with the exception of some odd pieces, and two small blocks sufficient for two bellies. His varnish is oil, and of various colours, ranging from deep red to golden yellow. It is perfectly transparent and fairly brilliant. He is the inventor of the triple bar system, which he applies to worn-out old and to cheap modern factory fiddles. The system consists in the use of three bass bars instead of the usual one. He has made up to date ninety violins and a few violas.