William Jacobs Musical Instruments

The Musicial Instruments

From Helena Jackson's book - This Family of Ours

    Prior to leaving London, William G Jacobs and his three sons, George William, Adnet John and William Norley were strolling players, and entertained on the river barges as they plied up and down the river Thames. It is to be remembered that in this period of history there were no cinemas, radio or television, so this was the only media besides lantern slides, for entertaining people when they were out walking...   apparently there were hundreds of these groups of stolling players, to be found all over London.

     William himself played the Violin, while his eldest son George played the three stringed Bass Fiddle, Will the most gifted of the three son, played the Harp and the Little Piano. Adnet did not seem to play any instrument professionally, probably step danced (the forerunner to the clog dance, and later the American Tap Dance) to entertain the crowds, accompained by the family orchestra. In later years in New Zealand, he often step danced for his children in the kitchen. He was a very thin slight man.

     On the "Forfarshore", on the voyage they were the ships musicians, and in Adnet family for many years there was a small visiting card which read, "William Jacobs and Sons, Musicians".

     It is possible that after William senior's death, each of the sons inherited and insrument. George the eldest received the violin on the understanding that it was to passed down from eldest son to eldest son. He alson had the big Bass Fiddle which he played. The Little Piano went to Adnet. While William junior (because he played them) probably received the two harps, one golden and one ebony. Having arrived in Nelson, the Jacobs family became the centre of the musical life of the town.

The Violin

    This was discovered and bought by William senior, in a small second hand shop, situated on the bank of the river Thames, in London. Inside it was written the following inscription.

                    FRIED AUG GLASS CERFERTIG TOMACH
                       ANTANUS STRADIMAMUS FIES FACI
                              VATIN CREMOND ANNO 1740

After William's death and George received the violin, which he also could play, Hilda his youngest daughter was the next to learn the instrument, after her death it was delivered from her estate, to George's only son Leonard Norley Jacobs, who was my father (Helena Jackson), but was in a very dilapidated condition, no strings or bridge,a nd the wood under the chin rest was completely shattered and split. This is how it was when I saw it and copied the inscription written withing. Having had it reparied and restored, and as my brother Leonard Noly George Jacobs although a musician did not play the violin, nor did he have a son to pass it on too, Dad sold it to a Mrs Grace Davies a professional violinist for Two hundred pounds sterling, she being very pleased to receive it.

The Double Bass

The unusual thing about the big Bass Fiddle wa the fact that it only had three strings instead of the usual four.
After Hilda's death Isobel Garrett Jacobs received it from the estate, but as it was so big, and her children now grown up could not play it, on the advice of her daughter Kitty, it was donated to Castles Museum of old Musical Instruments in Wellington, where it is today. This is a private museum and an appointment has to be made to visit if you wish to view it.

The Piano

    The little five and a bit octave piano is still in existence in the Jacobs family, and is now in the home of Warren Jacobs in Christchurch. It was first used in England, and then brought to New Zealand complete with the little hand cart in which it is wheeled about. As a small boy my father (Helena's) saw this little hand cart in Nelson, with the piano in it being moved around.
     Next it was to be seen for many years in the sitting room of Adnet John's home, at 29 West Street, Palmerston North, and here his children, and visiters played it as the children grew up.
     When Alice, John's wife died, she left it to her daughter Grace, then later when she went to live with Nellie Bower, her adopted sister and also her neice, Grace gave the piano to her youngest brother, Raymond Jacobs, becaus they had often played duets on it as children, and she knew he loved it and would take care of it. So it went to Christchurch.
     When it arrived it needed a few repairs, and it was treated for borer and tuned. After Ray's death, Elise, Ray's wife sold the big house and shifted to a smaller flat and it was then that it was given to Warren to take care of, and it is now displayed there, where it is a dear little show piece.

The Harp

Rose Greenbank, Adnet John's eldest child, who visited William senior whens he was a little girl (was 96 years of age when Helena published her book) says there were two Harps, on golden and one ebony. The one we see William unior playing int he photograph appears to be the golden one, and he was 16 years of age when this picture was taken. It is likely that he inherited both of the Harps, as he wa the only one who seemed to play them.

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A point of interest about the little piano, is that the dapper little man with the old world manner and wearing a pin stripe suit who restored the piano, was recommended as having tuned pianos for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of England.
The drawing (above) of the little piano was done by Roy Gilbert Jacobs and was taken from a photograph, taken by Warren Jacobs. Originally the little piano had candlesticks but later these were removed to modernize it. Notice also it has only the one pedal in the centre..... the sustaining pedal.