Born at Tiverton, Devon, 1843. Apprenticed to the joinery trade, migrated to Hull, 1863 to seek further improvement, thence to Liverpool and eventually Birmingham. Passionately fond (in boyhood) of the violin, opened (1874) a small shop in Ryland Street, where he was still working in 80th year, 1923. Produced many violins and ’cellos, priced at the very modest amount of £10 and £15. Design and workmanship not of the highest order, but everything pretty accurately answering to the idea we usually form of good ordinary accomplishment. Many of the fiddle seeking community have faddy prejudices to productions of Englishmen, but they labour under a great delusion when favouring artificial continental importations, particularly when the cost hovers around £20. Excellent instruments such as these of Grater unquestionably deserve a higher interest than customarily accorded to them, and we think it quite consistent with sound criticism when we appeal to players to be animated by a more generous spirit towards native creations.
Born at Tiverton, Devon, 1843. Apprenticed to the joinery trade, migrated to Hull, 1863 to seek further improvement, thence to Liverpool and eventually Birmingham. Passionately fond (in boyhood) of the violin, opened (1874) a small shop in Ryland Street, where he was still working in 80th year, 1923. Produced many violins and ’cellos, priced at the very modest amount of £10 and £15. Design and workmanship not of the highest order, but...