Robert Dunbar, springburn, Glasgow Scotland. Violin Number 3, made in 1923. This violin has an exceptionally beautiful sound, with a clear and resonant voice which has matured as the violin has aged. Beautiful tonewoods shape the identity of this instrument, which has been carefully restored by Phil Whitehead and we offer it to you in superb condition.

About Robert Dunbar
Robert Dunbar (1882-1953) was born in Renfrew, on the south side of the Clyde in 1882 and was the third child of seven to John Dunbar and Joanna Work. Between 1884 and 1887 the family moved to the Maryhill district of Glasgow and for John this coincided with a change in employment from gardener in 1881, to mason in 1891 and on his death sometime between 1894 and 1901 an iron moulder. Probably due to their financial situation the children seemed to have minimal schooling. The next eldest brother up from Robert, William, being employed as a message boy, aged 12 according to the 1891 census, the same job his 14-year-old younger brother Hendrie is performing in 1901. By now the 19-year-old Robert is employed as an engineering machinist, using lathes and milling machines to produce precision products.

In 1905 historical records show him in Springburn, Glasgow. 2 years later in 1907 he married Jeanie Walker Brock, a local girl and they gave birth to a daughter, Jeanie Walker Dunbar born in 1908. From 1915 until 1925 the family lived at 27 Reid Street, Springburn, and it will be from this address that Robert first applied his precision engineering skills, normally reserved for metal to wood, as he began to craft violins. What inspired him to do this and how he received his training is unfortunately not known, but by 1923 he had produced 3 instruments as attested to by his numbering on his labels.

He died at the age of 71 from a cerebral haemorrhage, at 150 Keppochhill Road, Glasgow, his home, on 5th October 1953.