Gilkes, Samuel
Samuel Gilkes
b.1787, d. 1827
London
It will now be requisite to retrace a few years to give the particulars of Samuel Gilkes, who was born in 1787 at a village named Morton Pinkney, near to Blisworth, Northamptonshire, and was sent to London to learn fiddle-making of the elder Charles Harris assluded to in a former part of this work, and completed his term of apprenticeship about 1809-10. I the course of the latter year he became a journeyman to William Forster (3), and at length, being initiated into the style of work of his employer, we find the remark B and G in his list of instruments made, that Gilkes assisted in making the violoncello No. 38, which appears to be th first instrument he had joined with others in making, and continued to do so during th whole of his engagement, which lasted for nine or ten years, sometimes alone, at others assisting, but always under the surveillance of his superior, who minutely examined th gauging before the instruments were put together. It will be well to take special notice of the year 1810, for, after he had commenced business on his own behalf, at 34, James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, a report was freely propagated by some on that Gilkes was the pupil of Old Forster (2), and, strange to relate, it went so far as to state that he had imparted to him, in preference to the family, the method of making fine varnish. The date of 1810 is sufficient to falsify these statements, as William Forster (2) died in 1808, and it is most probable that Gilkes had never seen him. Samuel Gilkes became an excellent workman, and received much patronage during his own career, both as a maker and dealer, which, however, was of short duration, for he died in November 1827, at his residence, previously given, and was buried in his native village. He made instruments of three or four different classes, and supplied many to music sellers and dealers in the country; but we are unable to state the umber or quality of those manufactured. The label used was as follows: -
b.1787, d. 1827
London
It will now be requisite to retrace a few years to give the particulars of Samuel Gilkes, who was born in 1787 at a village named Morton Pinkney, near to Blisworth, Northamptonshire, and was sent to London to learn fiddle-making of the elder Charles Harris assluded to in a former part of this work, and completed his term of apprenticeship about 1809-10. I the course of the latter year he became a journeyman to William Forster (3), and at length, being initiated into the style of work of his employer, we find the remark B and G in his list of instruments made, that Gilkes assisted in making the violoncello No. 38, which appears to be th first instrument he had joined with others in making, and continued to do so during th whole of his engagement, which lasted for nine or ten years, sometimes alone, at others assisting, but always under the surveillance of his superior, who minutely examined th gauging before the instruments were put together. It will be well to take special notice of the year 1810, for, after he had commenced business on his own behalf, at 34, James Street, Buckingham Gate, Westminster, a report was freely propagated by some on that Gilkes was the pupil of Old Forster (2), and, strange to relate, it went so far as to state that he had imparted to him, in preference to the family, the method of making fine varnish. The date of 1810 is sufficient to falsify these statements, as William Forster (2) died in 1808, and it is most probable that Gilkes had never seen him. Samuel Gilkes became an excellent workman, and received much patronage during his own career, both as a maker and dealer, which, however, was of short duration, for he died in November 1827, at his residence, previously given, and was buried in his native village. He made instruments of three or four different classes, and supplied many to music sellers and dealers in the country; but we are unable to state the umber or quality of those manufactured. The label used was as follows: -
Gilkes
From Forster's
Violin, and Violoncello Maker
34 James Street, Buckingham Gate
Westminster
Sandys & Forster
(pp.348-49)
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| Violoncello by Samuel Gilkes, LOB 734mm labelled "Samuel Gilkes Fecit London 1814" (Courtesy of Bromptons Auctioneers) |
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| Violoncello by Samuel Gilkes, LOB 177mm, circa 1825 (Courtesy of Bromptons Auctioneers) |
