Our founder, Johannes Hemeter, was a German émigré who moved from London to King’s Lynn, where he specialised in sausage casings. In 1914, he brought together his professional expertise and his passion for fitness, and set out to establish a string manufacturing business.

Our current premises were completed in 1915. However, with the outbreak of the First World War, the company was commissioned to produce surgical sutures for the army. Johannes’s son, John, served in the Royal Berkshire Regiment and was awarded the Military Medal for his service.

Sadly, Johannes passed away in 1919. His three sons, Charles, Stanley and John, continued his work, expanding Hemeter & Sons throughout the following decades. In the 1930s, the company was taken over by Cordes Harmoniques Babolat & Maillot, and continued to produce both musical and tennis strings.

The company changed hands again in the 1990s. Although we remained the Official Wimbledon Stringers until 2010, our focus gradually returned to what has always been at the heart of our craft: the making of exceptional music strings.

Having celebrated our 110th anniversary last year, we are proud to be entering a new chapter in Bow Brand’s history. In response to growing demand, we are expanding our work once again. Alongside our established harp strings, we are now producing bespoke strings for all stringed instruments, in both natural gut and gut core silver wound.