William Salchow studied cello with Georg Ulrich von Bülow in Germany, with Leonard Rose at The Juilliard School, and with Bernard Greenhouse, Luigi Silva, and Albert Catell. In 1955 he began working in the violin shop of Rembert Wurlitzer in New York City under Simone Sacconi. In 1960 he was awarded a Fulbright grant to apprentice with Georges Barjonnet in Mirecourt, France. He also studied with Jean-Jacques Millant.

Returning to New York, he opened his own shop and made bows for Samuel Mayes, Raya Garbousova, Zara Nelsova, Joseph Silverstein, Misha Elman, Misha Mishakoff, Leonard Rose, Arnold Steinhart, Yo-Yo Ma, Lynn Harrell, Jaime Laredo, and many others. Mr. Salchow bases his bows on old French models, and also on his own original model. His bows are in the collection of the Smithsonian Institution. He has taught many bow makers, including his son Stephen and grandson Isaac.