George Kindness

Kindness, George

George Kindness. Violin maker, b Edinburgh 11 Apr 1888, d Toronto 24 Aug 1968. He apprenticed in Edinburgh and came to Canada in 1911. He worked as a violin builder for R.S. Williams & Sons in Toronto, then operated his own Bay Street shop 1921-31. He continued building during the 1930s and 1940s, at the same time working as a wood finisher for the Robert Simpson Co. In 1945 his son Robert (b Toronto 26 Jan 1924, d Toronto 7 Nov 2009) joined the business and together they opened a store at 5-A Walton Street. During his lifetime Kindness built approximately 150 violins, mostly Stradivarius models. Those who owned Kindness violins included Henri Czaplinski and Fred Tobias (member of the TSO 1925-7). Robert Kindness became the head of the firm in 1968, and his son David (b 1955) also joined the staff. No longer builders, George Kindness & Son continued to sell and service violins and all stringed instruments at 211 Church Street until Robert retired and the business ceased operations 1 Apr 1986.