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Bow Brand Strings

Trade name	Bow Brand
Industry	Music String Manufacturing
Founded	1915
Founder	Johannes Hemeter
Headquarters	King's Lynn, Norfolk
Products	Natural Gut and Wire wound Strings
Number of employees	28
Website	www.bowbrand.com

Bow Brand

Overview

Bow Brand is a British manufacturer of natural gut strings, located in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. Established in 1915, the company produces strings for both musical instruments and sports equipment. Bow Brand has operated continuously from the same site since its founding.

History

Bow Brand was founded in 1915 with an initial focus on producing natural gut strings for tennis rackets. During both World War I and World War II, the company was commissioned to produce sutures, drawing on its expertise in gut processing. After the wars, Bow Brand resumed its production of strings for sports and music, eventually becoming the official string supplier for the Wimbledon Championships, a role it held until 2010.

An image Johannes Hemeter

The Role of Strings in Music

Strings are more than just functional components of an instrument; they are the voice of the violin, the cello, the viola, early music instruments or any other stringed instrument. Their tension, material, and construction all directly affect the sound produced. For centuries, gut strings were the gold standard

Historically, natural gut was the primary material for string making. Gut strings are still appreciated for their superior tonal qualities, offering richness, warmth, and a distinctive texture to the sound.

The String-Making Process

The process of creating strings, particularly gut strings, is intricate and labour-intensive. It starts with selecting the finest natural materials. This involves careful consideration of the animal's age, diet, and health. From start to finish the process can take up to 3 months. Bow Brand strings are made entirely by hand using skills passed down through the generations of the local crafts men and women.

The Sustainability of String Making

In recent years, the environmental impact of string production has come under scrutiny. Synthetic materials, while convenient, are derived from petrochemicals and are not biodegradable, contributing to the growing problem of plastic waste. On the other hand, natural gut strings are fully biodegradable.

Gut strings represent a full-circle use of natural materials, avoiding the environmental costs associated with synthetic alternatives.

Product Range

Harp Strings

Bow Brand is well known for its high-quality harp strings, which are widely used by professional and amateur harpists. The strings are available in a variety of gauges, catering to different types of harps and playing techniques.

Tennis Strings

Featured in the Wimbledon Tennis Museum

Bow Brand was historically recognized for its tennis strings, having served as the official stringer for the Wimbledon Championships until 2010.

Bowed Instrument Strings

In recent years, Bow Brand reintroduced gut-core strings for bowed instruments, including violins, violas, and cellos. These strings utilize traditional gut-string making techniques.

Other Uses

An image of one of the drying room in 1915 - the room is still in use

Natural gut strings from Bow Brand are also utilized by clockmakers and restorers as Clock-line. The strings are favoured in this field due to their stability, as they do not stretch or change diameter over time.

External Links

Official Website www.bowbrand.com