Robert Robinson

History

Robert ROBINSON (1850/1851-after 1912) was born in Wood County, near Sandusky, Ohio. Sources contain conflicting information regarding his birth year, with Henri Poidras stating 1850 and John Dilworth indicating 1851. He made his first violin at the age of sixteen. Recognizing the need for further knowledge, he embarked on extensive travels throughout the United States for seventeen years, sojourning in the workshops of at least twenty masters to perfect his craft, according to Henri Poidras. His professional journey included working in Des Moines, Iowa, from 1871 to 1877, then in Denver, Colorado, from 1882 to 1884. He returned to Des Moines from 1885 to 1891, worked in Salt Lake City, Utah, from 1891 to 1892, in Chicago from 1893 to 1894, and in San Francisco from 1897 to 1898. In 1899, he established himself as an independent violin maker in Boston. John Dilworth notes his activity in Portland, Oregon, in 1902, and a label from 1912 indicates he was active until at least that year, despite another source suggesting his death occurred after 1902.

Craft

• Models: Robert Robinson crafted new violins based on the patterns of Stradivari and Guarneri. He also developed his own personal model, which, according to Willibald Leo Lütgendorff, lay between these two classical forms. Some of his instruments featured ornamented backs, as noted by John Dilworth.
• Varnish: He utilized both oil and spirit varnishes of his own composition. The colors varied, ranging from amber-yellow to dark red, orange-red, and golden-brown shades.
• Output: Sources provide slightly differing counts of his total output. Henri Poidras credits him with 175 violins, 4 violas, and 4 'cellos, all made to order. John Dilworth states he completed about 180 violins, 10 violas, and 10 'cellos.

Influence

• Mentorship: Robert Robinson was a pupil of his father, who was himself a capable craftsman. Sources provide conflicting names for his father, with Henri Poidras identifying him as Robert E. Robinson and John Dilworth as R. C. Robinson.
• Training: He undertook extensive travels across the United States, spending time in the workshops of numerous masters to enhance his knowledge and skills.

Legacy

• Labels: Examples of his labels include "Robert Robinson fecit / Bostonia. Anno Dom. 1900" and "Robert Robinson. Fecit / Portlanda, Oregona. U.S.A. / Anno.. Jan 5.. 1912".

Summary

Robert Robinson (born 1850/1851 in Wood County, Ohio) was an American violin maker known for his extensive travels across the United States to perfect his craft. He worked in various cities, including Des Moines, Denver, Chicago, and San Francisco, before establishing his independent workshop in Boston in 1899. Robinson crafted violins, violas, and cellos, drawing inspiration from Stradivari and Guarneri, while also developing his own distinct model. He was noted for his self-composed oil and spirit varnishes and was active until at least 1912.