A fine example of the standard production of the W.E. Hill & Sons workshop (stamped HILL) from the early 20th century England, based on an 1810 Tourte model. The maker of the bow was Arthur Scarbrow, indicated a 0 on the underside of the silver tip with a E35 (allocation and year made xx35, 1935). The stick is 61 grams, medium firm, with a deep resonance, and fine handling. In excellent condition, offered for sale at Bay Fine Strings.
About the Hill Workshop:
In 1762, The name Hill was built on a long family history of violin and bow making, dates back under the luthier Joseph Hill.
The W.E. Hill & Sons workshop was founded by William Ebsworth Hill at Wardour Street in 1880. The firm soon gained a widespread reputation for expertise and dealing in fine instruments. They were also established as makers of instruments, bows, cases and fittings.
Many fine craftsmen worked for the firm. For much of the 20th century, the Hill workshop employed England's best bow makers, who created bows renowned for character and consistency. Hill violins, cellos and cases are also highly regarded. Their other products included varnish cleaner, violin e-strings, rosin, peg paste, music stands, chinrests, and specialist tools.
Arthur Scarbrow 1900–1953  
Worked at Hills 1919–1935
Arthur Scarbrow was born on 16 August 1900, in the Golborne area of Kensington, London, the seventh child of a bricklayer. By 1911 the family had moved to 8 Woodbine Cottages, Norwood Green, Southall, and his mother apparently worked in domestic service at Alfred Hill’s home in Hanwell.  
Scarbrow is said to have served in the armed forces in the First World War, aged only 16 or 17, and suffered from poor health thereafter. He apparently gained some training in cabinet making before joining the post-war intake of craftsmen at Hills (alongside Copley, Bishop, Lesson, Baily, Barnes and Bultitude). Starting in the case shop, he eventually became its foreman, and was reported as popular among his colleagues, though sometimes causing confusion by his practical jokes.  
Alfred Hill was keen to advance Scarbrow’s career in bow making. Bultitude thought him a good woodworker but not gifted as a bow maker as he had ‘started too late’. Though Scarbrow boasted that he made the stick used by the violin virtuoso Fritz Kreisler, according to Bultitude the stick was in fact re-made by Retford.  
An opportunity for one of the bow makers to advance to the best-quality work arose in 1930, on the retirement of William Napier, but Bultitude was thought more suitable to fill the post; Scarbrow subsequently left the firm and found work as a string maker. He died suddenly, reportedly of pneumonia, in 1953, aged only 52.