Please Sign In | Register
Multimedia Image Text
Atharraich gu Gàidhlig
Newspaper Index
Collections & Contributors
How To Learn Gaelic
Memo to Grant from Charles Playfair & Co., 1905, (back)
Z_GB1796_GRANT_979_65_PATENT_014_002
DATE OF IMAGE
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery
fiddlers
fiddles
Alexander Grant (1856 - 1942) was a native of Battangorm, Carrbridge, which gave rise to his familiar name - 'Battan'. As a boy he was exposed to what were to become his two great passions - fiddling and fishing. He went on to excel in both areas; as an angler by inventing his own unique fishing rod known as the 'Grant Vibration Rod', and as a fiddler by leading the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society for almost forty years and by becoming an expert in fiddle making techniques. He also invented a unique disc-shaped violin known as a 'Rondello'. An example of Grant's fishing rod, fiddle and Rondello can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (IMAG).
Grant patented his 'Vibration Rod' in 1894. In the early 1900s he sold the patent rights to Charles Playfair & Co., fishing tackle makers in Aberdeen. This memo to Grant, dated 27 February 1905, is from Charles Playfair. It accompanied a consignment of rods which, in Playfair's words are 'not a very good job' but 'will smooth down in use'. The rods cost sixteen shillings undressed and Playfair instructs Grant to 'charge what you like'. On the back of the memo, Mr. Playfair mentions a Mr. Newlands
You can easily find other resources by selecting any combination of the following attributes:
Please select the attributes you wish to search for. Fields are empty where there is no data.
Old County/Parish
Alexander Grant (hand written material)
Privacy Policy | Partners | Terms of Use | About Us | Contact Us
For guidance on the use of images and other content, please see the Terms and Conditions page.
High Life Highland is a company limited by guarantee registered in Scotland No. SC407011 and is a registered Scottish charity No. SC042593
fiddlers; fiddles; fishing rods
Alexander Grant (1856 - 1942) was a native of Battangorm, Carrbridge, which gave rise to his familiar name - 'Battan'. As a boy he was exposed to what were to become his two great passions - fiddling and fishing. He went on to excel in both areas; as an angler by inventing his own unique fishing rod known as the 'Grant Vibration Rod', and as a fiddler by leading the Highland Strathspey and Reel Society for almost forty years and by becoming an expert in fiddle making techniques. He also invented a unique disc-shaped violin known as a 'Rondello'. An example of Grant's fishing rod, fiddle and Rondello can be seen at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery (IMAG).<br /> <br /> Grant patented his 'Vibration Rod' in 1894. In the early 1900s he sold the patent rights to Charles Playfair & Co., fishing tackle makers in Aberdeen. This memo to Grant, dated 27 February 1905, is from Charles Playfair. It accompanied a consignment of rods which, in Playfair's words are 'not a very good job' but 'will smooth down in use'. The rods cost sixteen shillings undressed and Playfair instructs Grant to 'charge what you like'. On the back of the memo, Mr. Playfair mentions a Mr. Newlands