It was established in 1895 in Manchester, after Brodsky left New York and came to the English city to teach at the Royal Manchester College of Music and direct the Hallé Orchestra.
[2] After the First World War the membership changed several times, with Brodsky the only original member.
Brodsky and Fuchs, who both admired Edward Elgar, met him in February 1900, when Hans Richter introduced them following a performance of the Enigma Variations Richter conducted in Manchester.
[3] Several years later, in 1918, Elgar completed his String Quartet in E minor, Op.
[4][5] However, at the time Brodsky and Speelman were nearly seventy years of age[5] and the remainder of the quartet in their fifties and the work premiere was given in London by the "British String Quartet", led by Albert Sammons.