Bert Smith

This blog is intended to offer an archive of information about Bert Smith (1910 - 1973) who made violins and violas from 1930 at Bowness-on-Windermere, and from 1938 in Coniston.

I am also interested in creating a register of owners (past and present) of Bert's instruments, so please get in touch if you have at any point owned one.

The postcard pictured above was used by Bert to publicise his work; the photograph was taken in his Coniston attic.

1965 TV programme

In 1965 the BBC showed a documentary Violin on BBC1 (Friday 23rd April at 10.45 p.m.). This included footage of Bert in his attic with Yehudi Menuhin. Unfortunately the programme itself appears to be lost.

Here are some photos taken off the screen during that original broadcast, from a 405-line set.