John Dilworth
PEMBERTON, Edward c.1660-1700 London UK. This name is found in most dictionaries, but there is no historical nor physical evidence known of him.
George Hart
This maker has been often mentioned as the author of a Violin said to have been presented to the Earl of Leicester by Queen Elizabeth, and to suit this legend Pemberton’s era has been put back a century. The date given above will be found in the Violins of this maker.
William Meredith Morris
I have not seen or heard of anybody living who professes to have seen violins by Pemberton. Some have written as though they had seen numerous examples of Pemberton’s art, but I have inquired diligently for the last twenty years for definite particulars, and none are forthcoming. The legend of the ” Earl of Leicester ” violin has been laid to rest long ago.
Cecie Stainer
A maker in London in 1660. His instruments are ugly, but the tone is good and the varnish of fine quality. It has been suggested that a Pemberton was the maker of the instrument presented to the Earl of Leicester by Queen Elizabeth, which has “J. 1578 P.” engraved on the tail-pin—supposed to be the initials of the maker and the date of the year (1578) in which it was made—if so, he was the earliest English maker to make the violin of four strings.
Willibald Leo Lütgendorff
Vielleicht ein Sohn oder Enkel von J. Pemberton. Wenn die Geigen, die seinen
Namen tragen, echt sind, dann war er kein Meister. Seine Arbeit ist roh, der
Lack aber nicht schlecht und auch der Ton manchmal weich und angenehm.
