Milton O. Wickes, (1860-1938), Northampton

Born in Providence, Rhode Island. Beganmaking banjos, mandolins and guitars in 1877.  Workedin Boston for many years; moved to Holyoke where he lived for 10 years. Andrew Hyde invited him to join his firm in Northampton, MA“on a fifty-fifty”  basis. Openedhis own Northampton shop in 1904, a few months before Hyde's death.   Milton’s 1910 varnish, edge detail, f- holes, and scrolls bear such a strongresemblance to circa 1900 Hyde labeled work as to be indistinguishable from it. He alsomade bows stamped Milton O. Wickes. Played bass throughout the Connecticut river valley intheater pit orchestras. Modified Guarneri model. Varnish orange to shaded orange-red.Antiqued with black ink dots as per Hyde and Oscar Clark. Capableof very fine workmanship.  Repaired a violinmade by J. B. Vuillaume, 1905.

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