Retford family (bow-makers) facts for kids

William Charles Retford (1875–1970) and his son, William R. Retford (1899–1960), were famous English craftsmen. They were known for making bows for musical instruments like violins. They worked for a well-known company called W.E. Hill & Sons. William C. Retford is especially famous for helping to create the special "Hill bow" along with Alfred Hill.

The Retford Bow-Makers

Making bows for musical instruments is a very skilled job. These bows are used to play string instruments such as violins, violas, and cellos. The Retford family played a big part in making some of the best bows in England.

William C. Retford: A Master Craftsman

William Charles Retford, often called W.C. Retford, was born in 1875 and lived until 1970. He was known as one of the best bow makers of his time. He was a true perfectionist, meaning he always wanted his work to be absolutely perfect.

He was the first to use a special design called the fleur-de-lis on his best bows. These bows were often made with fancy materials like gold and tortoiseshell.

W.C. Retford also wrote a book in 1964 called "Bows and Bowmakers." This book shared new ideas about how English bows were made.

William R. Retford: Following in Footsteps

William Richard Retford, born in 1899, was the son of William C. Retford. He learned how to make bows from his father. It was tough for William Richard to live up to his famous dad's reputation.

Even though he worked for the Hills company, he mostly worked on "rehairing" bows. This means replacing the horsehair on old bows so they could be used again.

Their Legacy: Tools and Collections

After William C. Retford passed away, his friends Mr. Porter and Mr. Yeoman made a special arrangement. They worked with William R. Retford's daughter to donate all of his father's tools and materials. These items went to the Bate Collection of Musical Instruments in Oxford, England. This was done to remember William C. Retford.

Also, these friends, along with Arthur Bultitude, started the Retford Memorial Collection of Bows. This collection includes special bows like those for the viol and viola d'amore made by Edward Dodd.