The museum's violin collection is one of the musical instrument collection's strengths. It not only contains violins from Europe and Australia but also associated materials such as violin maker's tools and violin parts such as bridges and tuning pegs. This comprehensive collection of violin string packets cover a period of over one hundred years and illustrates the changes in string design from gut to steel and nylon over that time. The collection also includes packets relating to Australian makers in the collection such as Lloyd Adams, William Dolphin, HS Sampson and AE Smith. Smith's Paganini brand strings were produced in Australia during World War Two by Smith in premises adjacent to his Hunter Street shop in Sydney. Smith was prompted to begin making strings to supply many professional and amateur musicians in Australia who could no longer get strings from Germany as trading had ceased with Australia due to the war. The collection also includes unused gut strings made by Smith. The collection is also important as it has many examples of strings sold by major musical instrument retailers in several Australian state capitals such as WH Palings and AP Sykes as well as from overseas manufacturers.

Michael Lea
Curator, music & musical instruments
December 2004.

String packets produced by some of the leading violin string manufacturers throughout the world including Australia. Production outputs vary.

The collection was assembled by Roger Buckmaster over the last 30 years in the course of his repair and instrument making business in Melbourne.

Albums (2), containing stringed instrument string packets, receipts and a catalogue, various makers, various places, 1890-1990

Brown lever arch photograph album containing 39 double sided pages of violin string packets mounted underneath protective plastic film. Inside of front cover has photographic print of Roger Buckmaster doing a repair in his workshop. The inside back cover has details of his hands at work. The album contains 18 loose packets of strings and a receipt from Allans.

Blue lever arch photograph album containing 40 double sided pages of violin string packets mounted underneath protective plastic film. There is a photocopy of a photograph inside the front cover. The album contains 8 loose string packets, a small chinrest catalogue, a receipt from Manby violins and a violin finger position colour chart, possibly relating to Manby instruments.

Made: 1890 - 1990


Used: Buckmaster, Roger; Melbourne, Victoria; 1975 - 2005

See parts for marks information

2005/61/4

1890 - 1990