Photograph
John Shaw
1901

John Shaw (b ca.1848 Manchester), lived in Hulme (1881 at 52 Percy Street, when his occupation was that of carpenter; 1891 at 90 Walnut Street as joiner, musician and violin maker; 1895 onwards at 136 Great Jackson Street as violin maker) and was a double bass player as well as instrument maker and repairer. Around 1900, Josiah Chapman (collector and inventor in Manchester's photography and camera-making) lent his wife's Stradivari Piccolo violin (hopefully with her knowledge?) to Shaw so that he could make a mini model. In 1901, this little beauty was presented to the Chapmans, practically perfect in every way. It even has a small silver casket hidden in the little well near the head stock which contains spare strings - as if you'd ever need them. This model and the original Stradivari are part of the college's instrument museum.
There were a consistent handful of luthiers in Manchester making violins and guitars, since the mid-1800s. The RNCM continued that tradition for decades, with a residential luthier and later, during the annual strings festival, you could walk along the concourse by the big windows outside the concert hall and see a cello being made by a team of luthiers in real time.

Digitised for the Throwing Open the Concert Doors project, supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.