Thomas J Dignan Bowmaker

In the suburbs of Boston, Thomas J Dignan Bowmaker is a musical instrument bow-making and repair business, now operating from a small studio. Thomas opened Boston's first shop expressly focused on bow service, maintenance, and repair in 1983; that workshop closed in 2017. The work centers on bows used by musicians. It includes creating bows informed by historic bow-making craftsmanship, with attention to wood choice, stick taper and graduation, bend and camber, and the height of the head and frog. Subtle design adjustments are made to respond to musical demands. Thomas has nearly 50 years of experience examining and working with bows, including those made by French masters of the 19th and 20th centuries. The website identifies violin, cello, and bass bows among his work.