[1] He was a gunlock fitter and then a money scale maker before turning to bow making.
The celebrated 20th-century violist, Lillian Fuchs, owned a fine viola bow which sold in May 2014 for $22,800 at Tarisio Auctions.
Though Dodd was often in dire need of funds, it was recounted that he was very secretive about his art, and once turned down an offer of 1000 pounds sterling for a copy of his pattern.
An excellent choice of Pernambuco wood was available to Dodd and much of this came to England in the form of barrels.
According to Pierre Baillot,[2] it seems that Viotti may have used a Dodd bow which was about 2½ cm shorter than the Tourte model.