For three generations, the Penzel family of makers have been making fine bows. This is an excellent example from their workshop in Ostrach, Germany.
In the early to mid 20th. Century, The firm of Carl Fischer in New York (branches in Boston and Chicago) was one of the most important violin dealers in this country. They were able to get high quality instruments and bows from Europe (especially Germany).
The Herrmann family of bow makers was one of the most respected and important in Saxony and were closely associated with the Knopfs. Paul Herrmann was the son of Friedrich August Herrmann. After working with his father, he set up his own workshop in 1921, working there until his death in 1972.
The Otto Dürrschmidt workshop was founded in 1894 and today is headed by Uwe Dürrschmidt and his daughter. Today’s Dürrschmodt bows are made to the same exacting standards as they were over 100 years ago.
John Bolander worked with his father John Alfred. In 1943-1946 he learned bow making with Alfred Lanini . His bows have become very popular in the San Francisco Bay Area. And are of a distinctive style. The pernambuco stick is especially beautiful and the ebony frog is unusual, in that Bolander normally used mountain mahogany.