Notes:

"This double bass was made at the direct instigation of King George III for use in the King's Band. Two letters addressed to Forster relating to the ordering of the instrument are reproduced in The History of the Violin by Sandys and Forster, one from H. Compton, the other from N. Neibour, both members of the King's Band. The bass was the second which Forster supplied for the Band and it was requested that it should be on a much larger scale than the first. The Coat of Arms that the instrument bears are the ' reformed ' Arms of George III which were instituted after 1801 and must therefore have been updated. In 1838 the bass was sold out of Royal possession to the London violin dealer William Davis (later Edward Withers) who in turn sold it to Mr. J. C. Fenton of Huddersfield in 1839. There is a half erased pencil note inside the back refering to a repair in 1845 while in Huddersfield.

For some time the location of the bass was unknown. Then, after the second world war. It came into the possession of Mr. Gerald Brooks. At this time it was still fitted out with three strings as it undoubtedly was when built. However it is known that new machines were fitted by William Davis. The fourth screw was added at the instigation of Mr. Brooks. The instrument was in the possession of Mr. Donald Cheeseman and then Mr. Patrick O'Keefe before passing to the present owner."

Sotheby's Important Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, March 13, 1972, London, Sotheby's, Sotheby's Important Musical Instruments Auction Catalog, March 13, 1972, London, London