SOLD: Hawkes & Son Concert Double Bass c1907

Description

Hawkes & Son
The Concert Double Bass
1907
Denman ST, Piccadilly Circus, London

This is a fine Hawkes & Son Concert double bass has been featured on many recordings.  The instrument has been expertly maintained and setup and is ready to be owned and played by any serious Jazz or Orchestral double bassist in search of true English bass tone and character.

Known as Hawkes & Co. from 1860 to 1875, the firm was first established in 1860 as an importer of brass instruments in London by William Henry Hawkes (1830-1900), a state trumpet player for Queen Victoria. In
1869 he began to repair instruments and soon moved on to manufacturing. He also sold published music. In the late 19th century, the company was one of the most important publishers of brass and military music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

In 1891, Hawkes & Son began publishing a brass band journal called The Eclipse Band Journal. With the exception of Wright & Round’s publications in England, this journal was one of the most significant publications for brass band music in the early to mid-1890s. It was advertised even as late as 1916. In 1902, the company bought the tools of “A. Morton & Co., late A. Morton & Sons.” In 1924 a one acre factory was opened at Edgware, north London. Three years later the company was employing between 200 and 250 workers. This large producer of brass instruments was bought by BOOSEY in 1930 to form what is known today as “Boosey & Hawkes”.

Hawkes & Son double basses were produced under the Panormo, Concert & Professor names, Concert & Panormos being carved back and the later being flatbacks.  All basses were made on the Panormo
model with those of the highest quality bearing the Panormo brand name.  (Vincenzo Trusiano Panormo (1734–1813) was an Italian born and trained luthier who worked in England. Panormo is thought to have been born in Palermo, Sicily. He studied violin making in Naples with the Gagliano family of luthiers. From 1753 to 1789, Panormo worked in Paris. At the start of the French Revolution, he moved to Dublin, where he worked with Thomas Perry, and then to London where he crafted instruments until his death in 1813.  Panormo never worked for the Hawkes family).

Measurements:
Upper Bout: 22.25″
C Bout: 15.75″
Lower Bout: 26.5″
Length of Body: 45″
Rib Depth:  7″ @ Heel, to 9″ @ End Block
String Length: 43″
Neck: E