Arnold Bone is my father. He was an extraordinary man, beloved by all, a mastercraftsman, a gifted inventor, a father, friend, community person. He was devoted to his wife, Kitty, and spent much of his last fifteen years caring for her.
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Arnold R. Bone, engineer, inventor, gunsmith, string instrument bowmaker, and devoted husband, died on August 9th at Tippett Home Hospice in Needham from complications of heart arrhythmia. He had passed his 88th birthday on July 26th.
Mr. Bone grew up in South Ryegate, Vermont, attending high school ten miles away in Woodsville, New Hampshire, where he met his future wife. He graduated from Wentworth Institute in 1935 and worked at Irwin Auger Bit Company in Wilmington, Ohio before returning to Wentworth to teach Navy machinist mates during World War II. He worked at Dennison Mfg. Company in Framingham (now Avery Dennison) from 1944 until 2000 and was still involved in two projects there at the time of his death. He and his wife have lived in Needham since 1943, where they have been active in the Needham Congregational Church.
Mr. Bone held numerous patents at Dennison, including several for the Swiftacher, the device for attaching tags to clothing with a nylon filament. His ubiquitous fasteners were cited by Smithsonian Magazine as a universal annoyance. Dennison has honored Mr. Bone by dedicating a building in his name. In addition to inventing at his job, Mr. Bone always seemed to find ways to improve tools and devices around him, including myriad everyday conveniences around the home.
Mr. Bone applied his engineering and master craftsman skills to making string instrument bows, and also became one of the world's most respected experts on repair and restoration of fine bows. He was a member of the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. His customers ranged from young students to members of professional ensembles such as the Boston Symphony Orchestra, and bows have been shipped to him from all over the world. Mr. Bone and his craft have been featured in Boston Globe articles.
Mr. Bone and his wife of 62 years, Leona (Clough), known as Kitty, enjoyed weekends at their cabin in Vermont, maintaining close contact with family and friends in the area. Mr. Bone played violin and viola, and Mrs. Bone played violin. They both played in community orchestras in the Boston area for many years, but took special pleasure in playing chamber music at home and in Vermont with a wide variety of friends and colleagues, including professional musicians.
Mr. Bone is survived by his wife, their son, Russell P. of Billerica, daughters Marilyn Bone Kloss of Concord and Janet E. Bone of Morris Plains, New Jersey, two grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Burial was in South Ryegate, Vermont on Monday, August 13, 2001. A memorial service was held on October 27th at the Congregational Church in Needham. Eulogies were given by Russell, Marilyn, Gerard Merser (Dennison), Horst Kloss, Jon Vanderhorst, and Tom Delbanco. The Muir Quartet (Peter Zazofsky, Lucia Lin, Stephen Ansell, and Michael Reynolds) with guest cellist Ronald Lowry played the slow movement from Schubert's Quintet in C Major.
A booklet called "Memories of Arnold Bone" is available from Marilyn.
An endowment to advance public understanding and education of bow making history, performance qualities, machinery, materials, methods, maintenance, and conservation through research, technical studies, and wide dissemination of knowledge of stringed instrument bows has been established as a collaboration between the Smithsonian Institution, the Library of Congress, and the American Federation of Violin and Bow Makers. Contributions can be sent to:
Arnold Bone Endowment
Division of Cultural History
MAH 4100 MRC 616 PO Box 37012
Smithsonian Institution
Washington DC 20013-7012