Carl Becker (b 1887; d 1975) , Chicago
son of a well-known violin teacher in that city. Worked with John Hornsteiner for 15years. Having the ambition common to all novitiates, produced first instru in 1904, Worked for William Lewis&Son at Chicago since 1924.
was one of the great creative
personalities of the 20th century. His active career spanned
73 years and encompassed every facet of the luthier's art.
His output was prodigious, qualitatively as well as
quantitatively. Connoisseurs familiar with his work regarded him as a genius of the first rank.
The passion to become a violin maker captured him when he was just a lad. When he graduated from grammar school in 1901, at 13, he was apprenticed to William T. Lane, owner of a music store. There, at 14, he made his first violin. In 1902 he began to work with Lyon and Healy, under the direction of John Hornsteiner; of the famed Hornsteiner violin making family, a relationship that lasted in all 22 years. When John Hornsteiner opened his own violin shop in 1908, Carl joined him. In 1924 he accepted an invitation from William Lewis and Son, a leading Chicago violin dealer, to become master luthier and instrument appraiser, with the understanding that he would leave for three months each year to make instruments. In 1968 he and his son, Carl F. Becker, who had joined him at Lewis in 1937, formed their own company, Carl Becker and Son.
Carl Becker (b 1887; d 1975) , Chicago
son of a well-known violin teacher in that city. Worked with John Hornsteiner for 15years. Having the ambition common to all novitiates, produced first instru in 1904, Worked for William Lewis&Son at Chicago since 1924.
was one of the great creative
personalities of the 20th century. His active career spanned
73 years and encompassed every facet of the luthier's art.
His output was prodigious, qualit...
Becker,Carl G.
