Amati > Makers Archive > R > William Robert Rainey

William Robert Rainey

b. 1871

after 1922 San Diego, California USA. Active in New Bedford from 1890. Moved to San Diego, California 1922. Worked for Maude Powell, maintaining her collection of instruments; also as curator of the Ralph Granger collection in San Diego. Prolific maker, generally on Stradivari models. Fine workmansh\u{2026} — John Dilworth

Biographies

The overview above is drawn from the following published accounts. Read them in the original:

John Dilworth+

RAINEY, William Robert Born 1871 New Bedford, Massachusetts, d. after 1922 San Diego, California USA. Active in New Bedford from 1890. Moved to San Diego, California 1922. Worked for Maude Powell, maintaining her collection of instruments; also as curator of the Ralph Granger collection in San Diego. Prolific maker, generally on Stradivari models. Fine workmanship with dark brown varnish and local materials. Some cellos and bows also produced. Innovations, although ultimately unsuccessful, involved treated wood strips added within the front and a mechanism to adjust the height of the fingerboard and bridge.

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