History of Durro Violin Strings
The Durro brand of strings seems to have passed into oblivion since the 1940s, when "Durro" was the brand name used by Buegeleisen & Jacobson (B&J), a musical instrument retailer in New York City during the early half of the 20th century.
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Durro Brand
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B & J was a musical instrument and accessories store located at 113-115 University Place, New York, NY in the early 1900s. As importers and distributors, they specialized in fretted instruments such as guitars and mandolins, but also sold violins and accordions, and the strings and accessories needed for them. Like many large music retailers, they had a house brand name for some of their instruments, which were made elsewhere. Durro was the house brand name for B & J's violins, which were often made in Germany.
Why Durro?
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Salvadore de Durro was probably the fictitious maker's name assigned to the German-made violins that were sold by B&J. They were made during the early 1900s (pre-World War I) and were considered "student-quality" violins, decently made, but not top-of-the-line models. Their quality varied with the price tag.
With the advent of World War I, it became increasingly difficult for musical instrument importers and distributors to get German-made instruments and accessories. The Durro violins gradually disappeared from the retail market.
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Durro Strings
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Where there is a brand name for an instrument, in this case, Salvadore de Durro violins, it often follows that there is a set of accessories with the same brand name. The Durro violin strings were sold by B&J.
Violin Strings
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Many violin strings on the market today are manufactured for musical instrument resellers, under many different names that evoke associations with great performers and great instrument makers. An article in Strings magazine provides a good overview of violin strings, who makes them and the range of sound and price associated with them.
Violin Makers
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There are literally hundreds of stringed instrument makers who market their instruments through resellers, under various brand names. Sears and Roebuck sold student-quality violins in the early part of the 20th century, many of which were made in Germany. As Strings magazine points out in a recent article, Jay Heide violins are made by two makers, Jay Ifshin and Haide Lin. The tradition of making instruments and strings that work well together continues to evolve.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit From an old Buegeleisen & Jacobson catalog
